There’s a fence surrounding any worthwhile association. It was built by the organization’s leaders over the years. Its primary purpose is to protect the association. And in these times, it’s easy to understand why that structure is there. Health concerns are keeping members away from each other and the effects of that distance include financial challenges.
When times are tough, we often put on our protective shield. New projects can be shelved. Adding to the budget is often considered taboo.
But these, as we know all too well, are not normal times. There is only so much a short-staffed management office can do to keep members interested and informed. Zoom calls and e-blasts are getting old.
While the news is promising vaccines, sitting back and waiting on deployment strains patience stretched just as thin as dollars have been.
We’re willing to bet there’s a proposal to launch a podcast somewhere in the pipeline of your association. We also wager it wasn’t rejected outright because there is something inherent about the podcast format that many of us find appealing.
This leaves one likely scenario: You are sitting on the fence about jumping into the podcast game. It’s true that producing a program requires resources—manpower, money, and equipment, for starters. That fence is there to ensure the organization lasts for years. There’s also a latch that opens for new people and new ideas.
Here are a few reasons why you should get off that proverbial fence:
- It gives your organization a voice. Without in-person conferences, there’s a need for powerful mediums to spread messaging. Podcasts are about as popular a home as there is to get the word out there in a meaningful and enjoyable way.
- It demonstrates you are being proactive. Members are going to understand the protective nature of many tough choices made in the past 10 months. But imagine how welcomed the launch of a new initiative would be to your group.
- It opens new doors. One of primary reasons organizations and companies jump into podcasts is that the programs reveal a world of opportunities. The content can be repurposed to fill your website with new information to improve SEO ratings and attract eyeballs.
- It pays it forward. Starting a podcast does require some money for the equipment. If you’re lucky, some of your members have the technical savvy and know-how to handle the logistics on a volunteer basis. Down the road, the show can pay for itself in the way of sponsorships and advertising that will help offset the loss of those in-person conferences swept away by COVID-19.
The edge of those picket fences can’t be very comfortable. Put a stake in the ground for your group through a podcast. You and your members will be glad you did.
