Latest news with #podcasts
Entrepreneur
8 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.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Health
- Telegraph
SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask Headphones review: I'll never use ordinary earphones at bedtime again
Score: 9/10 We like: Comfortable Fully light blocking 15 day money back guarantee We don't like: Expensive Headphone positioning requires adjustment before use What are the SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask Headphones? If you like to listen to music or podcasts as you start to drift off each night, you've probably found that your earbuds or headphones can start to cause some discomfort or earache, especially if you're listening for longer periods. I find that I can have my earphones in for around an hour before my ear canals start to protest. But this innovative mask with headphones from SnoozeBand offers an interesting solution to that problem, while also providing cushioning and blackout properties to help you get a good night's sleep. This Deluxe option – priced at £69.99, but sometimes discounted – stood out when I was putting the best sleep masks to the test. Even though it's definitely an investment, it is still considerably cheaper than its main competitor, the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask, which costs more than twice as much. If you've been unsure which of the two would suit you best, you might be interested to read my comparison of the two below. Available in four colours, the SnoozeBand Deluxe combines a soft and adjustable blackout design with ultra-thin 4mm headphones, allowing you to pair it via Bluetooth with your smartphone or tablet to listen to your choice of music, audiobooks or podcasts. It also has some interesting additional features, more on which below. So, if you've already tried the best earplugs for sleeping, share a bed with a snoring partner or are looking for a better option for listening to music for side sleepers, here's everything you need to know about one of SnoozeBand's best selling devices. How we test To test the best sleep masks, I wore each one for several consecutive nights to account for any discrepancies or disruptions in my sleep. Primarily, I was concerned with the comfort, blackout properties and how secure it felt on my head through the night. I also assessed how soft and breathable the fabric was, plus how easy it was to wash and keep clean. Given the additional features of the SnoozeBand Deluxe, I tried both the built-in sounds – which allow you to listen offline, providing a nice alternative to the best white noise machines – as well as connecting it via Bluetooth to my phone to play music playlists and podcasts. In addition to this, I assessed how long one full charge lasted and whether or not I was happy to wear the sleep mask for a full eight hours overnight, taking into consideration whether it positively or negatively impacted the quality of my sleep. Even though I was a big fan of the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask – with it taking the title of best overall sleep mask – the SnoozeBand Deluxe is my go-to most nights. In fact, I've stopped using traditional earphones at bedtime altogether since trying it, no longer experiencing any earache, pain or discomfort as a result. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best sleep product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Fabric Score: 8/10 The fabric of a sleep mask can make or break its wearability. Given that you'll be wearing it for a good number of hours every night, it's important to choose the right type for you. This sleep mask is made from a combination of a cotton outer and nylon inner, both of which look and feel pleasant. I found the padded cotton outer to be nice and plump, but it was the inner nylon fabric that I enjoyed the most. Even though it might not be as breathable as cotton or silk, it has a silky soft feel to it which is rather cooling on the eyes and skin too. I certainly appreciated this on warmer nights, or when I had the heating cranked up. Overall, the mask has a nice heft to it while still being relatively lightweight. Considering that it houses the electrics to power the headphones and the headphones themselves, it doesn't add much weight or bulk around this delicate area of the face. Score: 9/10 Most sleep masks are one size fits all, which is why it is so important that they are adjustable to provide a good fit, no matter the shape or size of your head. Thankfully, the Velcro wrap design here allows you to snugly, yet comfortably, secure it around your eyes and head. It isn't overtly obvious that you need to unfurl the Velcro closure from under a flap of fabric when you first take it out of the box. In fact, if I hadn't checked the website beforehand, I might have been left wondering why I couldn't close the mask around my head. However, when you do have the Velcro closure in place, it was actually one of the strongest Velcro fastenings out of all the sleep masks that I've put to the test. This does mean that it can sometimes take a bit more strength to unfasten the mask each morning. But that's a small price to pay for a closure that seems fit to adhere and hold for many years to come. Blackout properties Score: 10/10 While other blackout sleep masks have a cutout around the nose which allows them to nestle in and block out light, this model has an extra piece of fabric around the nose to account for possible gaps. This, in combination with the snug and cosy fit, blocks out all light. I tested it out in the daytime and with artificial lighting to see if any seeped in, and I was pleased to discover that it provided true blackout qualities, with no light ingress whatsoever. This makes it an excellent choice for travel or if you happen to work night shifts and need to get some shut-eye during the day, when even the best blackout blinds still let in some light. Design Score: 9/10 One of the standout features of this mask is audio via its built-in headphones. You may need to take some time to adjust exactly where the headphones are, in relation to your ears, as they were a centimetre or two off for me at first. But, after taking a few seconds to get them in the right position, I haven't needed to move or readjust them since. The headphones themselves are made of soft foam and are incredibly slim. You can't feel them at all and they almost mould to the ear area, so they're ideal if you mostly sleep on your side. Add in one the best pillows for side sleepers, and you've got yourself a great setup. I didn't feel or notice the controls at the front of the sleep mask either, which surprised me as I thought that they might protrude or press down on the forehead area. If you plan on using this mask when travelling or on-the-go, you can roll up and secure the mask with its elastic strap. It's a nice touch, especially given that travel sleep masks I've used in the past tended to get crushed or take up quite a bit of space in my bag. Performance Score: 9/10 I was more than happy to wear this sleep mask for a full night's sleep, even when I had turned off the headphone function. It didn't slide or move around as I tossed and turned during the night, and it didn't feel particularly obtrusive. After switching from my traditional earphones to the SnoozeBand for just one night, I quickly realised that I wouldn't be going back to that way of listening to music or podcasts in bed. I had no earache and could easily turn the volume up or down as needed. In the past few months I've truly invested in my sleep routine and what I do to get ready for bed, utilising the best pillows and best mattresses – including the best mattress for back pain – to ensure that I wake up refreshed each morning. The SnoozeBand has certainly contributed to helping me drift off at night. If you're worried about it continuing to play after you fall asleep, and in turn running the battery down, you can select an automatic shut off timer for one, two or three hours. Speaking of the battery life, you get around 15 hours playback on a single charge, which should last you for at least a few nights before you need to recharge it. Technical specifications SnoozeBand isn't the only brand to sell sleep masks with built-in headphones. Their biggest competitor, Manta, also has a similar offering. But, at more than double the price, is the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask worth the extra expense over the SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask Headphones? I've compared the two, and both seem to be a hit with shoppers and reviewers. Should you buy the SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask Headphones? If you're looking to add a sleep mask to your bedtime or travel routine, and also want to be able to play music, relaxing sounds, your favourite podcast or latest audiobook, these are an excellent option. Being fully blackout and comfortable enough to wear all night quickly made the mask a must for me. I continue to use them to this day, and I'm not sure that I could go back to sleeping with a traditional pair of earphones after using this clever design. Yes, if: You want to comfortably listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks or white noise without worrying about earache You're looking for a fully blackout design You want to try it out before you commit to keeping it – thanks to the 15 day money back guarantee No, if: You need a more budget-friendly option You don't listen to music or podcasts before bed SnoozeBand Deluxe Sleep Mask Headphones FAQs Do SnoozeBands block out snoring? Sleeping close to someone who snores can wake you up in the middle of the night, disrupting your sleep cycle and making it difficult to get back to sleep. A SnoozeBand Deluxe headband might not completely eliminate especially loud snoring, but it can dampen the sound and reduce awakenings and make it easier to fall back asleep thanks to their audio capabilities and cushioned fit. How do you set a timer on a SnoozeBand? There are three automatic shut-off timers to choose from, deactivating the audio after 60, 120 or 180 minutes. You press the middle button on the front of the mask twice to cycle through the available settings. A voice prompt, which you will hear through the headphones, will confirm the selected timer setting. How long does it take to charge a SnoozeBand? Fully charging the SnoozeBand Deluxe typically takes between one and two hours. Does the SnoozeBand help with tinnitus? SnoozeBand claims to have 'received a lot of positive feedback from customers with tinnitus who have found SnoozeBand extremely helpful in managing their symptoms,' and that its team has 'previously worked with an NHS sleep facility that supports patients suffering from tinnitus.' Tinnitus has various causes, including exposure to loud sounds, ear infections and abnormal bone growth in the ear. Although using a SnoozeBand might feel helpful, it's important to consult with your GP to identify the cause of your tinnitus and get the right treatment.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Spotify's new podcast tab is a solid upgrade… unless you liked it the way it was
Spotify is rolling out some new podcast-focused features on its mobile app to make it easier to keep up with the shows you follow and discover new ones. One of the biggest changes is the new 'Following' feed. Spotify admits that finding the latest episodes from your followed podcasts hasn't always been easy, so this dedicated feed will now sit right inside your main Podcasts tab on the Home screen, giving you a single place to catch everything new. The new Following feed should already be live on your device. Spotify is also bringing podcast and video podcast recommendations straight to your Home feed. These suggestions will show up right below your shortcuts, making it easier to find new content to listen to – or watch – without digging through menus. Recommendations are now in your Home feed. The goal here is to cut down on the time you spend searching for fresh content and Spotify says it is going to keep experimenting with new ways to improve podcast feature coming soon is the 'In this episode' section on podcast pages. This will include links to other shows, songs, audiobooks, playlists and anything else the hosts mention during the episode. Creators can add these links themselves, so you won't have to go searching for them later. Honestly, this one sounds pretty useful – how many times have you wanted to save a song or book a host mentioned but forgot to write it down? Soon, you should also see a new 'In this episode' section on podcast pages. And Spotify is also giving podcast comments a light refresh. Based on user feedback, the company is adding threaded replies and emoji reactions. Creators will still have full control over whether comments are allowed, either for the whole show or individual episodes, through Spotify for Creators. These updates might feel minor, but I think they are clearly part of Spotify's bigger plan to stay competitive with Apple Podcasts and YouTube. YouTube, in particular, has been going all-in on podcasts lately – it even launched a weekly top podcast chart this month. And honestly, its push is working. YouTube hit 1 billion monthly active podcast users earlier this year, which is a massive number and shows just how dominant it's become in this space. Still, I'm not totally convinced that following YouTube's playbook is the best move – at least not for every Spotify fan. If Spotify is your main podcast app, the new Following feed could be a nice upgrade. But if you are like me and don't want videos popping up all over your app, you might not be thrilled with where this is going. It was nice having a podcast space that wasn't overloaded with videos everywhere.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Spotify wants to be more like YouTube, and users aren't happy
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Spotify has added video podcast recommendations to the Home screen, below shortcuts. Videos now have comment threads and links to more content, similar to YouTube. Some users complain that these new features move too far from the core music experience. Spotify made its name as the be-all and end-all music streaming app, but recently, the company has shifted its strategies toward podcasts and video. Now, the company is pushing video even harder by adding it to the Home screen, and it might be a step too far. Announced yesterday, the update puts video podcast recommendations near the top of the Home screen, right below your shortcuts. Note that this isn't a simple widget with the latest episode of your favorite podcast, but rather a discovery feed to find new video podcasts 'Picked for you.' Spotify claims that 'early feedback shows that more users are engaging, saving, and liking, telling us that they're discovering new podcasts they enjoy.' However, several Reddit users have bemoaned the update. Complaints range from the fact that 'Spotify is trying to be an everything app now' to difficulties managing screen time for teens with the shift to video. There's also a very real risk that the algorithm mistakenly recommends explicit material, as the company has repeatedly failed to catch adult content reuploaded to the platform. Spotify's video-first strategy annoys some users, but it continues to add subscribers. The video-first strategy has also prompted Spotify to expand its commenting system with threads. The idea is that creators can interact with their listeners more easily, but the result is a UI that looks eerily similar to YouTube. Beneath the comments is another section that displays links to other content mentioned in the episode, including other podcasts, music, audiobooks, and more. Spotify has also added a new Following tab to the podcasts section on the Home screen. This displays the latest episodes of podcasts you're following in chronological order. It replaces the old New Episodes playlist, but it appears to have removed a few key features. For example, users report that you can no longer hide episodes or mark them finished, which was previously possible in the New Episodes playlist. Despite these complaints, Spotify has continued to grow at a record pace. At the Q1 earnings call earlier this month, the company announced it added five million premium subscribers. That's the biggest jump since 2020, bringing the total subscriber count to 268 million. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Spotify is adding a Following feed for podcasts
Spotify is adding some new podcast-focused features to its mobile app to make it easier to help you keep track of podcasts you follow and more easily discover new ones. If Spotify is your main podcast app, the new Following feed the company is introducing might be a welcome change. In a blog post, the company acknowledges that finding the latest episodes of podcasts you follow 'has proved to be challenging,' so the new Following feed brings 'gives you a dedicated place to catch all the latest releases from the podcasts you follow – all in one easy-to-access feed within your main Podcast feed on Home.' The company is also adding podcast recommendations right into your Home feed. 'Just below your shortcuts, you'll start seeing recommendations for podcasts and video podcasts ready to be played or saved, making exploring new shows and episodes easier and more immersive,' Spotify says. Spotify might also add a 'quick note' about why it recommended some podcasts 'to help make bold picks feel more accessible.' The app is getting some creator-focused features, too. Creators will be able to link to content they talk about in their shows that's also on Spotify with a new 'In this episode' section that will appear on episode pages. This feature is rolling out 'in the coming weeks.' Spotify is also adding threaded replies and emoji reactions to comments.
