How much time out of your life do you sacrifice to your commute? It’s amazing how quickly it adds up.
If you drive/bike/bus just 30 minutes each way, that’s five hours a week. Do that 50 weeks out of the year, and it’s 250 hours, more than six full work weeks. Yeesh.
Now, I don’t mean to bum you out. Just pointing out an opportunity. Most of us spend hours a week trapped in one form of conveyance or another. Why not use that time to continue your marketing education with a good podcast?
For those not in the know, podcasts are recorded shows (usually audio only, though some have a video component) posted on the Internet to stream or download. Think of it like an audio blog. You can usually tune in on the show’s website, or subscribe on a service like iTunes, Google Music, or Stitcher. I recommend the latter option—the apps can put all your subscriptions in one place, and remember what episode you’re on and where you left off. Most importantly, they put the whole shebang on your phone, where you can listen via Bluetooth, headphones, or Bluetooth headphones.
There are hundreds of thousands of podcasts out there, on every imaginable topic. Which means there are hundreds of podcasts just for marketers. Here are a few to get you started (in random order):
10 Digital Marketing Podcasts to Take You to the Next Level
#1 – The Social Media Marketing Podcast
Topics Covered: Mostly social media marketing, with a little general digital marketing thrown in.
Sample Guests: Lee Odden, Nick Westergaard, Brian Clark
Episode Length: ~45 minutes
Social Media Examiner has established itself as an amazing resource for all things social. Their blog posts are always intensely tactical, useful how-to guides for whatever topic they’re tackling. I’m pleased to report the podcast is a worthy extension of the brand. Every Friday, host Michael Stelzner takes on a new topic, always with an expert guest to lend a hand.
#2 – The Marketing Book Podcast
Topics Covered: Interviews with authors of marketing books.
Sample Guests: David Spark, Jonah Berger, Carlos Hidalgo
Episode Length: 30-60 minutes
If you’re looking for marketing books to read, or for an expanded take on the ones you’ve already been through, this podcast has you covered. Host Douglas Burdett interviews a new marketing book author each episode. You get an inside view of the author’s process and their take on marketing, and frequently get recommendations for additional reading material, too.
Topics Covered: Digital marketing, advertising, social media marketing
Sample Guests: Maria Konnikova, Nancy Duarte
Episode Length: 60 minutes
SPOS (as it’s called) is hosted by Mirum’s Mitch Joel. Joel was an early adopter in the podcast game; they’re up to 523 weekly episodes and counting. Mitch and his guests cover hot marketing topics, pick an app of the week, and even include some recommended music for you to enjoy.
#4 – PNR with This Old Marketing Podcast
Topics Covered: Content marketing, social media marketing
Sample Guests: Just the two hosts
Episode Length: 60 minutes
“PNR” stands for Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose, the brain trust behind the Content Marketing Institute. These guys have a decade of experience with content marketing, and they’re both learned scholars about the tactic’s historical roots. What’s more, they’re both entertaining performers with great chemistry together. And they answer listener questions! What’s not to like?
#5 – The BeanCast
Topics Covered: Advertising, digital marketing, current events
Sample Guests: Mitch Joel, Amber MacArthur
Episode Length: 60 minutes
Each of the 400+ episodes of the BeanCast is a lively, irreverent roundtable discussion with a different panel every time. Host Bob Knorpp keeps things light and keeps the conversation moving. If you can handle the occasional bit of crude humor, the BeanCast is a great way to stay up-to-date on marketing news while laughing your face off.
#6 – The Sophisticated Marketer’s Podcast
Topics Covered: Digital marketing, B2B marketing, content marketing
Sample Guests: Joe Pulizzi, Tim Washer, Sally Hogshead
Episode Length: 30-45 minutes
The original rock ‘n’ roll marketer Jason Miller of LinkedIn Marketing hosts this year-old podcast, drawing on a deep bench of talented marketers for insightful interviews. Jason knows how to have fun and keep things light, but never fails to elicit serious insights from his guests. Right now it looks like they’re on a bit of a hiatus while Jason settles into his new role at LinkedIn UK, but there are plenty of back episodes to keep you going until he returns.
#7 – Social Pros Podcast
Topics Covered: Social media marketing
Sample Guests: Gary Vaynerchuk, Carlos Gil, Jonah Berger
Episode Length: ~45 minutes
Like the Sophisticated Marketer’s Podcast, this one features industry veterans—in this case, Jay Baer and Salesforce’s Adam Brown—who have a hefty rolodex of smart marketers to tap as guests. If your role involves social media at all, this is a must-listen.
#8 – Growth Byte
Topics Covered: Startup marketing, growth hacking
Sample Guests: N/A
Episode Length: 2-3 minutes
This daily podcast is unique: It’s short, and it doesn’t feature noteworthy guests or lively discussion. Instead, the team at Growth Hacker TV picks one article from the blogosphere every day and summarizes it in a quick but thorough way. It’s perfect for those fortunate enough to work from home—you can listen on the way from your bed to your office.
#9 – The Marketing Companion Podcast
Topics Covered: marketing trends, advertising, social media marketing
Sample Guests: N/A
Episode Length: ~30 minutes
Hosts Mark Schaefer and Tom Webster describe their show as “The World’s Most Entertaining Marketing Podcast.” I’ll leave that to the listener to judge. But there’s no denying Mark and Tom put on a good show. They’re funny, they’re insightful, and at 30 minutes an episode they always leave you wanting more.
#10 – Copyblogger FM
Topics Covered: Copywriting, email marketing, CRO
Sample Guests: Clark Buckner, Sally Hogshead
Episode Length: 25-30 minutes
Copyblogger’s Sonia Simone has industry cred to share. She’s put in her time and she knows her stuff. On this podcast, she alternates solid how-to episodes with thought leader interviews. All of Rainmaker.fm’s podcasts are excellently produced and eminently worth your time, but this one is my personal favorite on the platform.
…And your bonus non-marketing (but fascinating) podcast:
#11 – Invisibilia
Topics Covered: The invisible forces that shape our thoughts and interactions with the world and each other.
Sample Guests: A blind man who can ride a bike, a woman who can feel other people’s pain.
Episode Length: 45 minutes
It’s important for marketers to be aware of the wider world outside our bubble. For that purpose, I recommend Invisibilia. Hosts LuLu Miller, Alix Spiegel, and Hanna Rosin explore the invisible ways society, the environment, and our own bodies affect our decisions. It’s a podcast that will challenge what you know about influence, free will, and much more. It may not be a marketing podcast, per se, but it’s great for forcing your brain out of well-established ruts.
These are my picks for podcasts to make you a better marketer on your morning commute. What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.
Disclosure: LinkedIn Marketing is a TopRank Marketing client.
