Latest news with #marketing
Entrepreneur
11 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How AudioGO Is Making Podcast Advertising Accessible to Small Businesses
Every week, over 100 million consumers tune in to their favorite podcasts. Some are casual listeners. Others avidly fill their queues with so many episodes and interviews that they'll never... This story originally appeared on Calendar Every week, over 100 million consumers tune in to their favorite podcasts. Some are casual listeners. Others avidly fill their queues with so many episodes and interviews that they'll never work through them all. The growing number of online audio listeners represents a new consumer segment that businesses are increasingly targeting with their marketing messages. However, to date, there have been significant barriers to entry in the audio advertising space. Factors such as limited bandwidth, creative resources, and restrictive budgets have prevented smaller businesses from participating in the audio market. AudioGO, a part of SiriusXM, has rewritten the script for advertising on podcasts and similar online audio channels. AudioGO's innovative platform disrupts the market. It achieves this by making podcast advertising accessible to anyone, including those with small teams and limited marketing budgets. In this article, we'll explore how AudioGO democratizes digital audio advertising, making it easier than ever for small businesses, including niche and local enterprises, to amplify their message, reach their target audiences, and compete with larger brands. Small Business Marketing Pressures and Opportunities in 2025 The rise of online listeners is staggering. In 2023, 75% of Americans 12 and older had listened to online audio content within the past month. Even more impressive is that 70% of these individuals had done so within the past week. For some context, monthly listeners were 8% in 2003. People are tuning in to online audio more often and in greater numbers. The mass migration of tens of millions of listeners into the audio space has created a lucrative marketing opportunity. It helps businesses looking to reach consumers with their products and services. The question is, how can they do so? Advertisements and sponsorships are obvious options, but how do those happen behind the scenes? Besides, while people are listening, is it a safe bet to assume they'll pay attention to promotional content if you get an ad into a podcast? To answer the second question first, you have to find the right crowd. They are likely to be hyper-tuned to what you have to say. Edison Research calls those who listen to podcasts voraciously (an average of 11.2 hours per week) Super Listeners. Half of those surveyed reported that podcast messaging is the best way for brands to connect with them. Even more of them said they pay closer attention to podcast advertisements. They claim to be more likely to patronize a brand if it advertises on a show they like. People are flocking to audio as a preferred form of content. They are willing to accept advertisements as part of the audio experience. That means companies have a strong chance of reaching and resonating with target audiences through podcasts and similar online audio outlets. Small Business Barriers in Audio Advertising This still leaves the first question — and unfortunately, it's a logistical, administrative, and financial conundrum that keeps many entrepreneurs up at night. So, how can small businesses effectively reach their target audiences with limited budgets and small teams? Running a single 30-second podcast ad in 2024 averaged around $18 per thousand listeners. Sounds fine, right? At scale, however, this can become incredibly expensive, and scale has been the primary driver of this industry's operations so far. Many traditional podcast advertising packages start with minimums of $5,000 per campaign. Some set the bar at $25,000 per quarter. This is where AudioGO is shifting the tone and giving small businesses a voice in the audio advertising space. AudioGO: Accessible Audio Advertising for Entrepreneurs Firstly, AudioGO empowers small businesses to reach engaged listeners without the high costs or complexity of traditional ad buying. The all-in-one platform provides a robust self-service experience, enabling businesses of any size to create, target, and launch professional audio ads on major streaming services. From this platform, you can launch podcast ad campaigns across today's top podcast players. This includes Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, and gives you access to millions of engaged listeners. Creating and distributing ads is essential to true accessibility in this key area of modern marketing. The process of audio advertising includes several steps. Some of these are hard to see until you're in the middle of a campaign. They include: Firstly, identifying a target audience : There are millions of listeners tuning in, and understanding which of those are best for lead generation is critical. The first step in a successful campaign is understanding your target audience members and identifying the shows where they tend to tune in. : There are millions of listeners tuning in, and understanding which of those are best for lead generation is critical. The first step in a successful campaign is understanding your target audience members and identifying the shows where they tend to tune in. Creating the ads themselves : This includes the ability to craft a compelling script, stick to the right amount of time (30 seconds? 60 seconds?), attract a listener's attention, and weave a compelling call to action into the mix. You also need to consider factors such as brand voice and tone, copy, messaging, relevance, and more. : This includes the ability to craft a compelling script, stick to the right amount of time (30 seconds? 60 seconds?), attract a listener's attention, and weave a compelling call to action into the mix. You also need to consider factors such as brand voice and tone, copy, messaging, relevance, and more. Paying for and timing ads : Finding the right placements on shows that are willing to work with you takes a lot of legwork. You must also decide whether it's worth paying for premiums, like a mid-roll ad placement. : Finding the right placements on shows that are willing to work with you takes a lot of legwork. You must also decide whether it's worth paying for premiums, like a mid-roll ad placement. Finally, analyzing, understanding, and improving: You need to know if your audio ads are working, and if not, where to make adjustments. The ability to measure a campaign, observe the results, and synthesize them enough to create meaningful takeaways is essential to ongoing ad success. AudioGO's comprehensive approach and intuitive tools address all four of these areas: Targeting your audience : AudioGO has hundreds of audience parameters, including age, gender, location, device, and show topic. This precise audience targeting enables small businesses to build highly focused audiences, ensuring that every ad that plays has an optimal chance of generating a lead. : AudioGO has hundreds of audience parameters, including age, gender, location, device, and show topic. This precise audience targeting enables small businesses to build highly focused audiences, ensuring that every ad that plays has an optimal chance of generating a lead. Automating ad creation : The platform's creative tools are designed to fill skill gaps. One of these is hiring creatives. Businesses can pay $10 for a studio recording of their ads made from a stable of real voice actors who work with AudioGO. They can also utilize a free, on-demand AI-generated ad creation tool to reduce costs further. : The platform's creative tools are designed to fill skill gaps. One of these is hiring creatives. Businesses can pay $10 for a studio recording of their ads made from a stable of real voice actors who work with AudioGO. They can also utilize a free, on-demand AI-generated ad creation tool to reduce costs further. Matching budget to campaign : AudioGO's flexible budgeting feature enables small businesses to launch high-quality ad campaigns for as little as $250. This low threshold eliminates the barrier of ad package pricing and creates a level playing field for companies at every level. : AudioGO's flexible budgeting feature enables small businesses to launch high-quality ad campaigns for as little as $250. This low threshold eliminates the barrier of ad package pricing and creates a level playing field for companies at every level. Analyzing and improving: Advanced reporting features provide real-time feedback in a user-friendly dashboard. This empowers non-analytical professionals to understand a campaign's impact, identify who is listening, and make data-driven adjustments. AudioGO: Small Business Advertising Made Simple All in all, every aspect of AudioGO's platform is designed with equity in mind. Its creators understand the inefficiencies and barriers that giant ad packages create. They also realize that this naturally keeps millions of small businesses on the outside looking in. Finally, by streamlining ad creation and analysis, enabling precise targeting, and lowering minimum campaign spend, AudioGO has created an accessible, low-cost, high-value advertising option. Platforms like these provide small businesses with access to a cutting-edge area of consumer technology that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Featured Image Credit: Photo by Austin Distel; Unsplash; Thanks! The post How AudioGO Is Making Podcast Advertising Accessible to Small Businesses appeared first on Calendar.
Entrepreneur
11 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
What Every Brand Gets Wrong About Using AI
Fast, scalable AI-powered marketing can boost efficiency, but when brands sacrifice empathy for speed, they lose trust. Here's how to drive loyalty in the age of automation. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Artificial intelligence has definitely changed how we do business, for the better in many ways. Chatbots that reply in seconds, algorithms tracking your behavior so you can instantly get what you want and automation handling routine tasks faster than any human team ever could. But just because it's fast doesn't mean it feels good. Efficiency is great, but I've seen too many businesses losing the human element that actually builds trust and loyalty. If your digital experience feels robotic, scripted or cold, people won't stick around, no matter how "optimized" it is. At some point, tech needs a heartbeat behind it. Otherwise, all you're doing is automating disconnection. Related: How to Scale a Marketing Strategy That Works When automation goes too far Yes, automation is powerful. It keeps things running. Chatbots answer questions 24/7, tools auto-schedule content and systems track customer behavior. But let's not ignore the downside. Sure, 51% of consumers prefer interacting with bots over humans when they want immediate service. But what if they don't? What happens when customers get frustrated from waiting or having to repeat themselves? Think about the entire experience. When every interaction feels automated, customers begin to question whether anyone is really paying attention. Bots can't read the room. They can't hear tone, detect frustration or understand nuance. So, while automation helps scale, it often kills connection if you rely on it too much. Your chatbot can still handle basic questions, but when things get tricky, a handoff to a human rep makes all the difference. Most people aren't expecting perfection. They're looking for effort, care and responsiveness. When that's missing, the tech isn't helping — it's hurting. Personalization is now a necessity, not a mere desire Personalization is now a basic expectation, but it can't be all AI. In 2024, Forbes surveyed over 1,000 U.S. consumers for their State of Customer Service and CX Study and found that 81% of customers prefer companies that offer a personalized experience, and they expect this personal touch across the platforms they use, not just in-store or over email. No surprise there — it confirms what we already know about personalization. Customers want fast, relevant and thoughtful service that feels made for them. But here's where brands get it wrong: They use AI to automate "personalization" based on click behavior, email opens or CRM tags — and stop there. The result? Generic messages dressed up in personalization tags. "Hi [FirstName]" isn't what people mean by thoughtful. Yes, AI helps scale insight. But real personalization comes from real-time awareness, in those moments that can't be predicted. Knowing that a customer just called support five minutes ago changes how you respond to their next email. This isn't something AI alone can deliver. It takes judgment, context and care. Let your team go off-book when it serves the customer. That's what humanizing your strategy means: efficient, but never robotic. Because personalization shouldn't feel predictive, it should feel considered. AI might tee it up, but humans close the loop. Related: 5 Innovative Ways to Give Your Customers the Personalized Experiences They Want Do what the algorithm can't Speed, data and automation can open the door, but connection keeps people coming back. Ask real questions The comments section is the closest thing you've got to a real-time focus group. It keeps your blind spots in check. Ask what your customers are struggling with, what they want to see more of and what's missing. They'll tell you when something's off. If you're paying attention, you can adjust before it becomes a bigger issue. Reward frontline feedback Your best insights aren't in your dashboards. Want to improve a feature? Ask the person fielding complaints about it. Want to write better copy? Talk to the person who knows the objections your customers keep bringing up. Build a process where frontline teams can flag patterns, share feedback and influence decisions. When your team sees that their input shapes the brand, they become more invested. And when customers see that their voice actually leads to improvements, they trust you more. Lead with your story Sprout Social reports that for 86% of consumers, authenticity is a major factor in choosing which brands to support. That's why storytelling — especially the messy, honest kind — builds trust faster than any email sequence ever could. It doesn't have to be dramatic or polished. Some of the most powerful brand moments come from raw, unscripted content: a phone-shot video, a glimpse of what went wrong behind the scenes, a quick peek at how you build your product. The truth is, customers don't just want to be sold to — they want to be in a relationship with the brands they buy from. Seeing real people doing real work is what turns that relationship from transactional to emotional. Related: How Brands Can Embrace Authenticity in a World Craving Transparency People first, always AI is here to stay, and that's not a bad thing. Use automation. Streamline. But remember, the brands that will truly thrive are the ones that know how to scale connection, not just automation. The future of digital isn't less human. It's more intentional. Next time you build a marketing campaign, send an email or respond to a comment, ask yourself: Does this sound human? Or just efficient?
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Please, please don't buy an 'AI-optimized' screen protector or phone case
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Call me a Luddite, but my eyes glaze over when a product claims it has an 'AI-optimized' design. Whether it's marketing oversaturation or a growing existential dread as AI threatens to take over both my career and my hobbies, the phrase goes into one ear and out the other as just another buzzword, even though AI is changing the world as I write this. This came back to mind recently after a viral Reddit post showed a screen protector with an 'Optimized for AI' badge on the box. After some investigation, it appears to be a standard tempered glass screen protector from AmazingThing. I guess it's as 'Optimized for AI' as a screen protector can be, since it's just a thin piece of glass. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to questionable AI claims on non-tech products, so join me as we dive into the depths of a new age of marketing slop. AI all the things Nick Fernandez / Android Authority I first noticed this trend last year with phone cases. I typically test cases for our lists, and Spigen was one of the first to slap the AI moniker on its cases. For example, the Spigen Tough Armor (Ai) MagFit case is virtually identical to its predecessor, with a magnet as the most sophisticated component. No terrible AI companion is hiding in there. The listing claims it has 'AI-enhanced XRD Foam placement via LS-DYNA Test,' so I guess the AI is sprinkled in there during the design phase. When looking at the cases side-by-side, I couldn't tell you what is different about the XRD Foam placement, but I certainly hope a trained engineer checked the AI's work before it went into production. Companies have slapped AI badges on everything from phone cases to toothbrushes. There are some products where some level of intervention almost makes sense. Oral-B's Genius X electric toothbrushes use 'AI Brushing Recognition' to tell you when you've missed a spot while brushing your teeth. I feel like this is something my organic brain could handle, but if it keeps nine out of ten robot dentists off my back, I'm willing to give it a shot. Then there are things like Brisk It AI-Powered Grills, which have integrated Wi-Fi and an AI assistant to help you grill to perfection. Personally, fatherhood has given me a new appreciation for staring at a rack of meat in solitude for hours at a time, but if you'd rather stare at temperature readings on your phone, more power to you. But there's one product that I find so egregious that I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Allow me to introduce you to AI golf clubs. Selling AI Smoke Gallaway These are Callaway's AI-enhanced irons. No, these clubs won't play golf for you, nor do they have an integrated assistant to help you bring down your handicap. Instead, they use AI in the design phase, similar to Spigen's (Ai) cases. The company claims it used AI to analyze swing data of thousands of golfers to find a design that 'promotes maximum distance with tight dispersion into the green.' It calls this technology AI Smart Face, which is fitting because you'd have to be a total dumbass to buy into it. Don't buy into the hype of AI-enhanced products. Also fitting is the name of the product itself — Paradym Ai Smoke Irons. Yes, Callaway's marketing department is literally selling AI smoke to consumers, and it isn't ashamed to admit it. So let this serve as a lesson to all of us: Don't buy into the AI hype for most products. Generative AI is one thing, but when it comes to everything else, from AI-optimized screen protectors to golf clubs, most of it is just smoke.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Paige Spiranac Is Turning Heads With Her Impressive Swing
Paige Spiranac Is Turning Heads With Her Impressive Swing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Paige Spiranac, golf's biggest social media sensation with over 11 million followers, has taken her talents to the front office. On Wednesday, she officially joined the Grass League in a strategic leadership role. Advertisement Known for her content empire and vibrant personality, Paige will now be helping shape the league's future by overseeing brand development, digital marketing, fan engagement, and even scouting new talent, team owners, and sponsors. 'I got some big high-powered executive job with Grass Leagues. And they were like, no, no, no, we see through your act. We know that you're a marketing and branding genius' Spiranac said. Paige Spiranac watches her teammates putt on the No. 6 green during the 2023 Kaulig Companies Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK But it's not all boardrooms and strategy, Spiranac grabbed attention with a golf swing trial this Friday that had fans buzzing online. Her smooth swing and confident demeanor turned heads, with many fans showering her with praise and plenty of playful banter in the comments. Advertisement Some fans were left wondering why she isn't competing professionally. With one saying :'Why doesn't she play in the LPGA?.' Another joked about her on-course routines: 'She will be playing in front of us next week… fixing her hair on every Tee for another 5+hr round!.' "Go play in the LPGA then already. Lame," one fan said. 'I've this video on loop for an hour and I haven't seen her swing once,' one fan hilariously noted. 'Just picked up this same outfit. Unfortunately, my local CC wouldn't let me play in it 😆,' another user said. 'Everything L👀ks great to me… LOL,' a fan commented. Speaking on her Grass League role, Paige had shared, "Now, now everyone's going to know all these great ideas that I have and how I'm actually going to grow the game of golf. Like that's not what I wanted my legacy to be.." Advertisement With her influence and creativity, the league seems set to grow in all the right ways. Related: Paige Spiranac Drops 'Hot Take' After Rory McIlroy's Masters Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spam texts and robocalls are more than a nuisance. People are being scammed.
If you're anything like me, you've probably reached your limit with the incessant barrage of spam text messages and calls that flood your phone. It seems that every few minutes, I get yet another unsolicited message — whether it's from a random number trying to convince me to sell my home or a marketing survey asking for my thoughts on everything from the current state of the economy to the performance of President Donald Trump. The most frustrating part about these intrusions is the constant prompt to type "Stop" if you wish to opt out. Yet, I've noticed that responding in this way often feels counterproductive; instead of putting an end to the harassment, it seems to only add my number to even more lists of groups that bombard me with relentless messages. The frustrating cycle worsens when I receive a call from an unknown number. If I don't answer, I might miss an important call. Conversely, when I do pick up and hear, 'Hello, James, we've been reviewing your property and are ready to extend a generous offer to you…' I want to scream. Robocalls and scam texts are not only frustrating; they can also lead to significant financial losses. I usually don't allow the caller to finish their second sentence on a spam call before I interrupt and tell them to remove me from their call list. When they are aggressive — and some can be — I resort to a few choice colorful words, much to my wife's dismay. I added my number to the national do-not-call list in 2024 because I was overwhelmed by the numerous spam calls and texts from phone companies, individuals trying to buy my house, and people conducting political surveys. However, it seems that the calls and texts have gotten worse than ever. Here are just some of the spam text messages I received recently: 'The Fed warned that a recession may already be here. Unemployment is growing. Prices are still going up. The Republican budget will only make it worse, handing more tax breaks to billionaires while the rest of us worry about making ends meet. Is your family ready for a recession? -TS Stop to end' Recession Alert: Trump calls it 'an adjustment period.' His Treasury Secretary said there are 'no guarantees' we avoid recession. The Fed is worried. So is the Wall Street Journal. They know Trump's reckless tariffs will cripple small businesses, cost jobs, and raise prices for American Families. It's all part of the Republican plan to give mass tax breaks to the richest Americans while the rest of us try to make ends meet. Stop to End.' 'Hi James, if the 2025 midterm elections to Congress were held today, for which party would you vote? Republican B. Democrat C. Other D. Will not vote' 'Hi, James. We are reviewing properties in your area and are prepared to make you a generous offer on your property located at (address). Don't let the opportunity pass you by. There has never been a better time to sell your home.' 'Dear James, my name is Cindi, and I was wondering if you would be interested in selling your property at (address). If you're wondering how I got your information, it's all on public records. Don't feel like you're being targeted. If you're interested in selling your property, it will be a FAST and EASY transaction, because we can pay CASH!' I've also received robotexts from institutions that appeared legitimate but were ultimately scams. For example, on March 27, I got a message from E-ZPass claiming that I had an 'outstanding toll.' It text stated, 'If you fail to pay by March 30, 2025, you will face penalties or legal action.' The text included a link for more details. Officials have warned the public about this nationwide scam and advised against clicking on the link, as it could install malware on their devices. While the number of robocalls has decreased by 17% over the last three years, unwanted robotexts have tripled during the same period. This indicates that scammers are increasingly using unregulated texts, according to the Federal Trade Commission. You are likely receiving more robocalls as well, because 21% of Americans, or approximately 56 million people, lost money due to scam calls in 2023, according to Truecaller's U.S. Spam and Scam Report. According to the report, those who have been defrauded tend to be the segment of the community who can least afford a financial loss. While volumes have declined, the threat may have accelerated, according to the report. The report highlighted that during election cycles, Americans receive unprecedented levels of mobile targeting for calls and messages aimed at fundraising, influencing behavior, and, in many instances, enabling fraud by bad actors who exploit the commotion. Some of the key findings from the report: Black and Hispanic adults were twice as likely to report losing money due to robocalls and texts compared to white Americans. Artificial intelligence is increasingly utilized to make these scams sound more realistic. Individuals aged 18-44 are three times more likely to be targeted than older adults. Robocall and text scams have cost Americans $25.4 billion in losses. The primary question is: How can we, as consumers, protect ourselves from spam and safeguard our personal information? It's important to remember that not all robocalls or robotexts are spam. Some are automated messages, such as the reminder I receive from my dentist a few days before my appointment, or notifications when I'm late on a credit card payment — those are particularly frustrating. A story by my USA Today colleague Cody Godwin suggests that we should consider several steps to enhance our safety. Godwin recommends contacting your wireless provider to see which tools and solutions they offer that you can implement. Some may already be built into your device to block or flag spam calls. I've just learned this: you should also ensure that your caller ID is activated. You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. Opinion: Here's what readers had to say about wake-enhanced boating on Wisconsin lakes While this is intended to prevent telemarketers from calling or texting you, we acknowledge that not everyone adheres to this rule. Although most people don't go this far, if the calls and texts continue, you can file a complaint online with the FTC or FCC. You can also call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC. Another option is to download and activate a robocall blocking app. For extra protection, be smart and never give access to your bank information, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. If you answer the phone and the caller or recording asks you to press a button to stop receiving calls, simply hang up. Scammers use this trick to identify potential targets. While I desire stronger measures to combat the constant influx of unwanted robocalls and intrusive robotexts, I can't help but feel that the situation will only worsen. Therefore, it is up to us to stay alert and protect ourselves from unsolicited communications that buzz and ding from unknown numbers. It is essential to remain vigilant and protect our personal space and assets amid this growing digital chaos. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on X@jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Spam calls, texts can cost you money. Don't fall for them | Opinion
