Choosing the Best for Your Business: Production Studio or Podcast Agency?

Uncover Key Factors in Selecting Between a Podcast Production Studio and a Podcast Agency for Boosting Your Business Growth.

 

By Roger Nairn, CEO

The podcast industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years, with businesses of all sizes capitalizing on the power of audio storytelling to connect with their audiences, strengthen their brand, and ultimately drive growth. As a result, a wide range of production options has emerged, making it crucial for businesses to choose the right solution for their needs.

Drawing inspiration from the recent blog post “Are You a Task Solver or a Problem Solver?” by Benyamin Elias on his Substack Diamond Pencils, I’d like to examine the key differences between a production studio that treats your podcast as a task and a podcast agency that solves your pressing business problems through a podcast.

A task-oriented production studio is akin to the ‘task solver’ described in the blog post. They are focused on completing the technical aspects of podcast production, such as recording, editing, and mixing. While they are often skilled at these tasks, their services might lack the strategic and creative elements needed to make your podcast stand out. 

Pros:

  • Cost-effective option for businesses with a limited budget
  • Efficient and fast turnaround times for podcast production

Cons:

  • Limited focus on the broader business goals and objectives of your podcast
  • Lack of strategic guidance and creative input
  • Don’t offer audience growth services (or lean on “pay for download tools” that only help with vanity metrics, but don’t grow your audience)
  • Lack of access to comprehensive measurement tools

A podcast agency, on the other hand, is more like the ‘problem solver’ outlined in the blog post. They are focused on understanding your business’s unique challenges and designing a podcast that addresses those issues. In addition to providing the technical aspects of podcast production, a podcast agency offers strategic guidance, creative direction, and a deep understanding of your target audience. They craft the podcast to serve the needs of the audience, giving it its best opportunity to be successful and solve the business problem. 

Some examples of business problems include increasing brand awareness, increasing brand lift, boosting your brand positioning, and demonstrating thought leadership. 

Pros:

  • Comprehensive approach to podcast production from concept to execution
  • Expertise in podcast strategy and audience engagement
  • Customized solutions tailored to your business’s specific needs and goals

Cons:

  • Typically more expensive than a task-oriented production studio
  • Longer lead times for project completion due to the additional planning and strategy involved

Every business is different and one solution might work better than the other for what you need. If you’re tight on budget and time, a production studio will get you an affordable, listen-ready branded podcast in no time. However, when it comes to strategically crafting a problem-solving solution that’s music to your ears, a podcast agency (like us at JAR Audio!) will be able to provide you with the attention and competitive edge your business needs. It’s important to define your goals, and your parameters, and to ultimately ask yourself, are you looking to complete a task or solve a problem?  

Looking to Solve Your Business Problems with a Podcast?

JAR Audio is a full-service agency that solves brand problems with Original Podcasts.