In the past few posts, I’ve placed a lot of emphasis on how geography influences what people buy, how they shop and how they consume content.
Given the fact that consumers act differently based on where they live, it makes sense that marketers have learned to adapt their marketing techniques to meet the needs of the businesses in the geographical regions where they are currently working in.
In addition to the differences in consumer behavior, the industries that marketers work in may be influencing the types of marketing campaigns that are currently being used. In other words, it may be the case that each marketing community adapts its marketing techniques to meet the needs of the primary industries in that region.
However, it may also be the case that marketers in each community are sharing ideas with each other in that region and thus, the same ideas are being spread over and over again.
In order to break this cycle, marketers need to get ideas from others outside of their “bubbles” that they currently live in.
The obvious solution is to attend national or regional events in other parts of the country in order to network and share ideas with marketers who might have different points of view. However, many marketers don’t have the budget for this type of networking.
Another solution is to read books and blog posts from marketers in other areas of the country. This is something that I highly recommend. However, sometimes time is an issue.
That is exactly why I love podcasts.
Podcasts often are a free way to gain valuable insights from marketers around the country or the world, for that matter, in a way that allows you to do something else at the same time, like drive or clean the house.
Podcasts That I’d Recommend
Last year, I wrote a blog post that highlights some really great marketing and technology podcasts, including the BeanCast, ADVERVE, and Marketing Over Coffee. I still listen to many of the podcasts on that list on a regular basis.
However, I’ve added a few others to my rotation. These include:
AMA’s MarketingPower Podcast – In this podcast, marketing thought leaders provide insights about the challenges that face businesses today.
Six Pixels of Separation – Hosted by Mitch Joel, this podcast often features some of the biggest names in the marketing and PR world. This podcast should definitely be on your list.
The Digital Dive Podcast – Based out of Atlanta, this bi-weekly podcast is hosted by Emily Binder and Melanie Touchstone. In each episode, the hosts discuss the current events that are shaping the digital landscape.
There are also a few podcasts that I plan to listen to in the near future, including Chris Brogan’s “The Human Business Way” and Marcus Sheridan’s “Mad Marketing Podcast.”
Finally, my list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention HubSpot’s Marketing Update. The show is filled with useful information that businesses of all sizes can benefit from. In episode #229, Mike Volpe mentioned that the show will soon be available in an audio version. When that happens, it will be a lot easier for people to listen to the show on a more regular basis.
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned last year, podcasts are a great source of information.
They give people the ability to increase their knowledge while doing other tasks that need to be done in their day-to-day lives.
Moreover, I feel that podcasts are an important way for marketers to keep up with news and information and get suggestions from other business leaders outside their “bubbles” that they currently live in.
By listening to podcasts, marketers might learn something that could help their businesses gain the edge they need to outsell their competitors. At the very least, they might be entertained for an hour or two.
Photo credit: Compudemano on Flickr.
