How this startup aims to make podcasting more accessible

The podcast has been around for about two decades. It took a while to get off the trail. Today, however, podcasting has become a booming industry thanks in part to its growth during the pandemic.

According to a study published by PwC and the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the value of podcasting is expected to reach $4 billion by 2024. In the United States alone. Grand View Research forecasts global podcasting revenue to skyrocket to $94.88 billion by 2028.

These are great numbers for entrepreneurs looking to both share their knowledge and get paid for it. But, of course, they're not the only ones who love the podcast. Many leading advertisers view the podcast as a valuable marketing and branding tool and a way to generate leads.

So why aren't more thought leaders, dreamers, and creators diving into the podcast area? It turns out that the world of podcasting can be a bit daunting to pursue. SquadCast co-founder and CFO Rockwell Felder understands why. However, he also believes that his company, which has just made significant feature updates, is helping to reduce these barriers.

Challenges of Starting a Podcast

It may seem like the easiest thing in the world to record yourself so the world can hear your views and ideas. But unfortunately, podcasting is much more complicated than just taking a video on your laptop or smartphone. When you podcast, you have to think about what seems like a million factors.

For example, how will you make sure your audio and visuals match? What if your visuals look grainy or pixelated? And if you want to welcome guests? How are you going to make sure they sound as good as you do? Oh, speaking of Polish, what is the protocol for purchasing microphones, headphones, and other gear? These questions aren't even about how to retain your audience.

With so many elements in the mix, many podcasters give up before they give podcasting a chance. Felder calls this phenomenon “podfade”. It's a term that has gained traction in the podcast industry to explain the decline of podcasters who stop creating content. However, Podfade is not inevitable.

"People give up [podcasting] because it's a hard and lonely game, especially in the beginning," says Felder. "The biggest challenge is that when you're a creator, there's so much 'to do'. Creators often don't realize they're what we call a micro media organization." p>

This reality is one of the reasons Felder founded SquadCast with Zachariah Moreno, who serves as CEO and CTO. They wanted to make the trip to try podcasting more doable and, quite frankly, fun. Felder admits that SquadCast doesn't remove the need for planning, research, editing, or marketing. Still, he notes his company offers a setup where creators can more easily build support teams and drive listener growth.

SquadCast's Innovative Solutions for Podcasting Success

What exactly makes SquadCast a unique resource for people looking to bring their podcasts to life? Felder mentions several solutions that have made SquadCast a standout solution.

1. An engaging and engaged community.

Podcasting can feel very isolating from a "star" perspective. It can be difficult to assess whether to try something new or to objectively consider the effectiveness of an episode. Those just exploring the field may find it hard to know where to start and what early stumbles to avoid.

Its founders modeled SquadCast to help all podcasters, including new faces, solve everyday problems. In addition to its popular blog, the SquadCast site includes engagement opportunities. For example, SquadCasters can access the SquadCast team and other members when they need help. Felder sees this as a key differentiator, as it allows podcasters to see themselves as part of a supportive community.

"SquadCast's mission is to amplify collaboration. This [updated] version makes it easier for creators and their production teams to collaborate across the platform." Felder adds, "We're creators too. , and I can't...