Audio Blog - The Next Big Thing for Content Creators!
Deepika - December 17, 2024 - Leave your thoughts. 6 min read
Audio content is everywhere in today's fast-paced world, and the way we consume information is changing. From podcasts that accompany during commutes to audiobooks that liven up the weekends, listening became the new scrolling.
Recent stats show that the number of podcast listeners hit 504.9 million in 2024 - a whopping 8.6% increase over last year. This proves that audio has quickly become the king of convenience.
Here’s a statistical report on how the number of podcast listeners in the US grew in the last 10 years, from 2013 to 2023.
This shift has also opened a treasure trove of opportunities for brands to connect with their audience. Brands aren’t just tuning in; they’re making the move. By curating snappy, bite-sized audio campaigns, they are reaching their audience in more personal ways.
One of the types of audio content is the Audio Blog, an audio format that blends traditional blogs with spoken words. It’s concise, immersive, and perfectly curated for this multitasking world.
Let’s explore why audio blogs are the new trend in content marketing and how creators and brands use them to build deeper connections.
Let’s dive in!
- What is an Audio Blog?
- Why Are Audio Blogs the Next Big Thing?
- Creating a Perfect Voice for Audio Blog!
- The Future of Audio Blog!
- Summing it Up!
What is an Audio Blog?
Blogs started off in written format, where creators shared thoughts, stories, and expertise via text. With the advent of multimedia, blogs evolved to include images, videos, and now, audio.
An audio blog is a modern twist on traditional blogging. They are an innovative blend of text and audio designed to deliver the essence of written blogs in a format that listeners can enjoy hands-free.
Audio blogs are versatile and can be delivered in multiple formats, such as embedded audio, MP3/ WAV files, and voice-activated devices like Alexa.
You might be thinking, ‘Aren’t podcasts and audiobooks kind of the same?’
Well, audio blogs are unique in their own way. Let me explain.
Unlike podcasts, which are conversational, or audiobooks, which are full-length stories, audio blogs are brief yet informative, retaining the quick-read essence of traditional blogs.
Let’s take a look at some key features of an audio blog:
- A blend of text & audio: Audio blogs are a combination of written text with spoken narration, giving listeners the best of both worlds.
- Bite-Sized Format: Typically short and concise, audio blogs are designed for quick consumption, catering to busy audiences.
- Flexible Listening: They can be accessed across various platforms, websites, apps, and even social media.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Audio blogs serve both visually impaired audiences and multitaskers, ensuring inclusivity of the audience.
- Personal Touch with Voice: Creators can add emotion, tone, and character through narration, making the content relatable and connecting.
- Multilingual Possibilities: With AI tools, audio blogs can be produced/translated in different languages to reach global audiences.
- User Engagement: Features like clickable links within the audio blog or CTAs embedded in audio enhance user engagement.
Let’s simplify it! Here’s a quick comparison of Blogs vs Audio blogs vs Podcasts.
Explore the unique traits distinguishing audio blogs from podcasts in this blog, Audio Blog vs Podcast.
Why Are Audio Blogs the Next Big Thing?
The 2020 pandemic outburst sparked a major shift towards audio consumption, with a staggering 76.2% of people reporting higher audio content intake compared to pre-pandemic times.
Adding to this trend, podcasts have also been a major driving force in the exponential growth of audio content. They introduced the convenience of "listening while doing," which paved the way for the rise of formats like audio blogs.
This surge shows that listeners are increasingly inclined toward audio formats for entertainment, education, and connection, especially during lockdown.
The stats also show that audio blog listeners are 32% more likely to engage in multiple sessions when compared to readers.
Bloggers and Brands are also leveraging this rising trend of audio blogs. Bloggers & content creators are switching from traditional blog posts to engaging audio blogs, while brands are invested in crafting audio campaigns that resonate with audiences.
Audio blogs combine the storytelling power of voice with the informational depth of blogs, making them a preferred tool for creators and brands to engage their audiences effectively.
Now that we understand what audio blogs are and the impact they can have on content space let’s take a look at how you can create a voiceover for your audio blog.
Creating a Perfect Voice for Audio Blog!
Audio blogs might sound complex to create, but with tools like Animaker AI Voice Generator, the process becomes a breeze.
Animaker Voice is an AI-powered voiceover tool that helps creators convert text to high-quality audio in minutes. With 800+ humanlike voices in 175+ languages, it’s a game-changer for creators and brands.
Here’s how you can create a voiceover for your audio blog using Animaker Voice in just 4 simple steps:
Step 1: From the Animaker dashboard, click on ‘Generate AI Voiceover.’
Step 2: Choose the category for the voice
Step 3: Pick the AI voice of your choice. The voice can be switched in the next step, too.
Step 4: Copy- paste your blog content, preview it, and download it to your device.
And there you have a perfect human-like AI voiceover ready for your blog.
Here’s a blog post on How To Make Text-To-Speech Videos to learn more about using Animaker Voice to craft stunning voiceovers for your audioblog.
The Future of Audio Blog!
As we step further into this digital age, the trend toward inclining audio consumption will only grow.
If you are a content creator or a brand, then switching to or incorporating audio blogs into your content strategy will help in:
- Reaching more people: Audio blogs cater to a larger segment of people, both auditory learners and those with limited time.
- Opening Monetization Opportunities: Brands can sponsor audio blogs, or creators can include affiliate marketing links to create monetizing opportunities.
- Building a connection: Through narration, a sense of personal touch can be incorporated into your blogs. It, in turn, helps build a strong connection with your viewers.
- Expanding to a global audience: With tools like Animaker Voice, you can produce multilingual audio blogs to cater to international listeners.
- Repurposing content: Your written blogs can be easily converted into audio blogs, which not only saves a lot of time but also gives existing content a fresh appeal.
- Boosting Searchability: Pair audio blogs with transcriptions to improve your SEO rankings and content discoverability.
Summing it Up!
The rise of audio blogs marks a pivotal moment in the content creation landscape. Offering a blend of convenience, accessibility, and engagement, audio blogs empower creators and brands to reach audiences like never before.
You can use your own voice or even explore AI-generated voiceovers for your audio blogs. If you are looking to leverage the power of AI, then there are some great tools online that help you convert text to AI voiceovers.
Check out this blog on 5 TTS Alternatives You Must Try, to know the top 5 TTS tools to create AI voiceovers.
By leveraging tools like Animaker Voice, you can turn your written content into engaging human-like voices within a few seconds, helping you not only boost your productivity by 2x but also provide high-quality output.
Start your journey into the future of content creation today.
Explore Animaker Voice and transform your blogs into captivating audio experiences in minutes!
The future is listening. Are you?
