The last 15 months saw video conferencing grow quickly in popularity, and for good reason. We had to continue to work, somehow. But now that we have a chance to reflect on the best ways of engaging our clients, colleagues and even friends, audio engagement needs to be reconsidered.
Here’s why: Audio is an active medium that requires the listener to make “movies of the mind.” These movies are almost instant memories and if that audio takes the form of a story, it’s more memorable still. Enter podcasts for business.
Advantages of Podcasts for Business
Video conferencing has grown into a global phenomenon overnight and now takes over many of our calendars. While people all over the world have easily adopted online conferencing software into their daily lives, audio content delivery, via secure private podcast, puts more power in the hands of your employees and colleagues to choose when and where they want to listen.
Audio is Flexible
Content creation that uses only audio is much easier than facilitating a video conference. In addition to its straightforward functionality, audio content capture requires only a stable internet connection and a remote recording technology.
When recording colleagues or outside guests remotely, guests simply log in to the remote recording technology and don’t have to bother with cameras and the troubleshooting struggles that come with video. What’s more, most people are already familiar with audio-only content, making this form of communication much more accessible and cost effective.
Higher Quality Content
Video conferencing involves a large amount of data that’s transferred across a network at a rapid pace. In contrast, audio-only content removes the need to transfer that data and focuses on providing the highest-quality audio experience. Networks have a much easier time transferring audio data when compared with video data resulting in a higher quality listening experience for your employees and colleagues.
Better Security
As more people move to video conferencing, they’re met with a handful of security complications. Many have experienced “Zoom bombings” or other invasive experiences that threatened to release private information.
On the other hand, audio content is incredibly secure, especially if it’s on a private Content Distribution Network (CDN) such as FieldCast. Our system makes it extremely difficult for perpetrators to hack into a recording or listening experience.
Greater Efficiency
If you’ve ever been on a video conference, you can attest to the hurdles that come with setting up a workstation that appears professional. In contrast, an audio-only communication avoids the initial visual set up and focuses straight on the task at hand—communicating information at an efficient rate. Audio communication is just plain quicker than video calls and much easier to accomplish for all involved stakeholders.
When should you use an audio experience, or business podcast, instead of using video?
Audio communications are still incredibly important for everyday use. If you’re looking to get a quick update on a project or communicate crucial information to a colleague, an audio-only communication will work just fine.
Overall, providing differentiated communications, including audio, and providing your employees and colleagues with an always-on, 360 communications approach will allow high quality audio to cut through and provide powerful real time updates as well as more nuanced discussions of crucial business matters.