Podcast’s Business Categories
Are you trying to classify your podcast into an appropriate business category? A podcast is a tricky business to classify. To figure out what business category is a podcast, you must consider the following things:
- Firstly, assess whether your podcast generates revenue, as this is a key indicator of its business status. Revenue can come from various sources, such as advertising, sponsorships, or even merchandise sales.
- Consider the level of professionalism and consistency in your podcast production, as these elements can further solidify its standing as a business.
- Evaluate the legal structure you’ve established for your podcast, such as forming a limited liability company (LLC) or operating as a sole proprietorship.
By examining these aspects, you can better understand where your podcast fits within the business landscape and ensure it’s classified appropriately.
What Business Category is a Podcast?
A podcast can belong to many different categories depending on the content and its focus, such as media and entertainment, technology, education, etc., as it entails producing and delivering audio content to a targeted audience across diverse platforms.
Podcasts can serve as a marketing instrument for businesses seeking to advertise their products or services. This is why one of the sectors that podcasts fall under is marketing and advertising.
Here are a few business categories that podcasts can be associated with:
| PODCAST BUSINESS CATEGORY | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|
| Marketing and Advertising | One business category that a podcast can fall under is marketing and advertising. Many businesses use podcasts to promote their products and services to a targeted audience. |
| Media and Entertainment | Podcasts also fall under the media and entertainment category. They serve as a platform for sharing news, opinions, and entertainment content, much like traditional radio or television. Many media companies produce and distribute podcasts as a way to monetize their content and reach new audiences. |
| Education | Podcasts are also used for education and training purposes, making them a part of the education and training industry. Podcasts can provide instructional content on various topics, such as language learning, personal development, and professional training. |
| News | Podcasts that focus on delivering news and current events fall into the news category. These podcasts often provide in-depth analysis, interviews, and reporting on various topics, including politics, global affairs, and local news. |
| Lifestyle | Lifestyle podcasts cover a wide range of topics related to personal interests and daily life, such as health and wellness, fashion, travel, and relationships. These podcasts often provide tips, advice, and inspiration to help listeners improve their quality of life. |
| Business | Business podcasts cater to professionals and entrepreneurs by offering insights, strategies, and discussions on various business-related topics, including management, entrepreneurship, finance, and industry trends. |
| Technology | Technology podcasts focus on the latest developments in the tech industry, including gadgets, software, innovations, and tech news. These podcasts often feature interviews with experts, reviews of new products, and discussions on the impact of technology on society. |
MORE: How much money could a podcast make?
How to Categorize Your Podcast
As a podcast creator, you will have to categorize your podcast. Having the correct categories and identifying your podcast niche determines who will see your media in their recommendations.
Remember that the overall category needs to match the interests of your target audience.
To categorize your podcast, you will need to select a primary and usually a secondary category that best describes the content.
Here are a few steps you can follow to choose the best ones:
1. Determine the main topic or podcast theme
This will help you focus your content and attract the right audience. Some popular podcast topics include news and current events, sports, technology, health and wellness, entertainment, education, and more.
If you’re having trouble choosing the right name for your podcast, you should use our free podcast name generator, which will help you come up with the perfect name for your podcast.
2. Choose a primary category for your podcast
The primary category should be the one that best represents your podcast’s main topic or theme.
Examples of primary categories include society and culture, business, comedy, news and politics, etc.
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3. Decide if you will have multiple podcast categories
These categories should be related to the primary category and can help potential listeners find your podcast when searching for specific topics.
For example, if your primary category is society and culture, you may choose secondary categories such as personal journals, philosophy, relationships, etc.
4. Check the categories available on the platform where you plan to host your podcast (Apple, Spotify, Castos, etc.)
Different platforms may have different categories available, so make sure to select the appropriate categories for your platform. Remember that you can post your podcast on various platforms; however, the platforms must be compatible.
Here’s a list of different podcast hosting platforms you can try:
- Buzzsprout,
- Apple Podcasts,
- Spotify for Podcasters,
- Podbean,
- Blubrry,
- Acast,
- Soundcloud,
- Libsyn.
5. Be as specific as possible with your podcast categorization
By being specific with your categorization, you can help your podcast stand out and attract listeners who are interested in your particular topic or theme.
This can also help you avoid getting lost among other podcasts with similar topics.
For example, instead of just choosing “business” as your primary category, you may select “entrepreneurship” or “marketing” to make your podcast more specific and targeted.
MORE: How to start a podcast
Steps to Categorizing Your Podcast
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Popular Podcast Categories
To make your job easier, here’s a detailed list of categories and subcategories of podcasts:
| CATEGORY | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Arts | – Visual Arts – Performing Arts – Literature |
| Business | – Sales – Startups – eCommerce |
| Comedy | – Stand-up Comedy – Satire – Interviews |
| Education | – Language Learning – Self-improvement – Personal Finance |
| Health & Fitness | – Nutrition – Mental Health – Fitness & Exercise |
| History | – World History – American History – Ancient History |
| Kids & Family | – Children’s Stories – Parenting – Family Life |
| Leisure | – Travel – Food & Cooking – Hobbies & Games |
| Music | – Music History – Music Interviews – Music News |
| News & Politics | – National News – International News – Political Commentary |
| Religion & Spirituality | – Christianity – Hinduism – Spirituality |
| Society & Culture | – True Crime – Social Commentary – Lifestyle |
| Sports | – Football – Basketball – Baseball |
| Technology | – Tech News – Gadgets – Programming |
Apple Podcast Categories
When creating your podcast, it’s important to ensure that the platform you choose offers the appropriate category for your content, as different podcasting platforms may offer varying categories. Here’s a list of podcast categories available on Apple Podcasts:
| Apple Podcast Categories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arts | Kids & Family | Technology |
| Business | Leisure | True Crime |
| Comedy | Music | TV & Film |
| Education | News | Sports |
| Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | History |
| Government | Science | |
| Health & Fitness | Society and Culture | |
Under these categories, the platform also offers subcategories such as Books, Design, Fashion & Beauty, and more.
Spotify Podcast Categories
Spotify also offers a wide range of podcast categories. Here are some of them:
| Spotify Podcast Categories | |
|---|---|
| Arts & Entertainment, | Lifestyle & Health |
| Business & Technology, | News & Politics |
| Educational | Sports & Recreation |
| Games | True Crime |
Benefits of Categorizing Your Podcast
Categorizing your podcast can provide several benefits, including:
1. Increased visibility
Categorizing your podcast can help potential listeners locate it when they search for specific topics. This can increase your visibility and attract more listeners.
2. Targeted audience
By choosing a specific category that accurately reflects your podcast’s content, you can attract a targeted audience interested in that particular topic. Build a loyal and engaged ‘listenership’ by targeting the correct audience.
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3. Improved search rankings
Most platforms use categories to help organize and promote content. Your podcast can rank higher in search results if you choose the right category.
4. Better user experience
Categorizing your podcast can improve the user experience for your listeners, as they can easily find and discover content that aligns with their interests.
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5. Branding and marketing
By accurately categorizing your podcast, you can position your podcast brand as an expert in your field and attract sponsors or advertisers who are interested in reaching your specific audience. Increasing the visibility of your podcast is bound to lead to success in the industry.
MORE: What makes a good podcast?
Takeaway Points
Podcasts are a flexible medium used by companies to enhance their business. They can fall into different business categories, such as marketing and advertising, media and entertainment, and education and training.
Categorizing your podcast accurately is crucial to attracting the right audience. The process involves determining the main topic, choosing a primary and one or more secondary categories, and being specific.
The benefits of categorizing your podcast include increased visibility, a targeted audience, improved search rankings, and a better user experience.
MORE: How to grow your podcast