It’s easy for marketing teams to get sidetracked in B2B Podcast ROI discussions.
That’s because, unlike traditional podcasting, the success of your B2B podcast isn't based on downloads, ad revenue, and other quantifiable KPIs.
The business connections and referrals your show brings to your brand are the objective metrics you should use to gauge your show’s performance.
So when launching a podcast, aligning your expectations with the real value it brings to your business is incredibly important.
The Real Value in B2B Podcasts
Many visionaries enter the podcasting space with dreams of quick profits and massive audience traction.
But if the audio-on-demand journey were that simple, everyone would do it.
Success in podcasting, particularly in the B2B sector, shouldn't be assessed merely by your number of regular listeners or direct earnings.
Instead, the focus should be on the strategic benefits — building relationships with guests and generating business opportunities through those connections.
Why Traditional Metrics Fall Short
As I’ve said, many podcast success stories highlight typical metrics like download numbers and ad revenue.
Yet, these numbers don’t tell the whole story. They rarely reflect the underlying value a B2B podcast creates in fostering deep, meaningful business relationships that often lead to collaborations, partnerships, and referrals.
Build a Professional Network Through Audio
A B2B podcast allows you to engage thought leaders, industry experts, and peers in conversations that aren’t just broadcast to an audience.
More importantly, it helps you create a network of influential contacts.
Each episode is an opportunity to build rapport and trust with guests, providing a foundation for future business interactions.
How to Properly Appraise Your B2B Podcast ROI
Measuring ROI for B2B podcasts necessitates a shift from quantitative to qualitative metrics.
Instead of counting listeners, weigh the quality of interactions and the potential business leads generated through your guests.
For example, let’s say you want to launch a podcast targeting marketing teams at American colleges and universities. After several dozen interviews, you’ve gained a few potentially lucrative leads … but your download count is “only” in the low hundreds.
Yet, considering that the United States is home to roughly 3,900 higher ed institutions, you give context to the size of your target audience’s pool of listeners. So hundreds of listeners would be a considerable chunk of your desired demographic.
That’s why you must treat each podcast episode like any other in-person networking event, like a business lunch or a conference.
Just as you wouldn't measure the success of a networking event by the number of attendees alone, evaluate your podcast by the quality of relationships you generate through it.
By providing your guests with a platform to share their insights, they can become advocates for your brand.
This mutual benefit will perpetuate into a network of spokespeople who will likely refer your services within their circles.
A Long-Term View on Brand Awareness
The immediate financial returns from a B2B podcast may not be substantial.
However, the long-term benefits of strengthened industry relationships and enhanced brand reputation are invaluable.
B2B podcasts serve as a dynamic tool for brand storytelling.
They allow you to subtly educate your audience about your services while informing and entertaining, enhancing brand recall and loyalty.
This ongoing engagement is critical in building familiarity and trust, paving the way for when a listener (or guest) needs your product or service.
B2B Podcasts Are Strategic Investments
Downloads, listens, and ad partnerships are surface-level benchmarks for gauging B2B podcast ROI.
True success is dependent on the business relationships you form with your guests and the strategic opportunities that arise from them.
If you're ready to explore how a B2B podcast can transform your business relationships and elevate your market presence, contact us at Westport Studios for a free consultation.
Let’s build a podcast that not only sounds great but also benefits your brand’s legacy.