More people are listening to audio content today than in the past.
Almost half (46%) of the U.S. population listens to spoken word audio content daily. (Source = the latest Spoken Word Audio Report released from NPR and Edison Research.)
The report also says Gen Z is consuming more audio content than other generations.
This is significant for many reasons. One reason is many businesses are dumping huge amounts of money into creating videos. Heard of a platform called TikTok?
As of the publication of this post, TikTok is leaving every other social platform in its dust.
Videos are popular and they have their place.
But to overlook audio content could be costing companies opportunities.
Examples of Audio Content
Audio content runs the gamut:
-Podcasts
-Audiobooks
-Music
Within each of these categories are spin-offs of audio content ideas.
Technology is behind these rising audio trends. For starters, access to audio content has never been easier. Just about everyone has a smart phone. Built into the Apple iPhone is the Apple Podcast app. Millions of podcasts are but a search away.
It's easier than ever to listen.
Why Audio?
The experience of watching a video vs listening to the spoken word is very different. Each experience generates different outcomes.
As someone who prefers consuming content through my ears, I can attest that audio is more intimate. I feel more connected to content I hear. This is one of the reasons I chose to start my podcast in 2014.
Simply put, I enjoy audio content.
Listening is also my preferred way of learning. I remember more of what I hear than what I see. That puts me in good company. Roughly 30 percent of people are auditory learners.
I recognize everyone has a different learning style. Audio isn't for everyone. But current audio trends suggest the spoken word is a growing content category worth noticing.
If your business isn’t creating audio content, it could be time to explore what that might look like.
Contact me here to learn how you could tap into the exciting uptick in audio trends.
