This Is How You Can Use the Power of Podcasts to Drive Business Growth

During the pandemic, podcasts exploded in popularity with audiences around the world. They provided a novel mode of entertainment for people who were confined to their homes. There are numerous podcast genres to choose from, from personality-driven programs to news and debate shows. 

Post-pandemic, live streaming podcasts has become popular, with digital participation having established itself as a new feature. It brings together audiences, presenters, and marketers. It also provides opportunities for revenue generation, with an increasing number of platforms charging listeners. 

Podcasts have grown popular with market-savvy companies looking to build brand and expand their reach. Podcasts can be a powerful marketing tool. They can drive business growth and help organizations operating in any industry to reach new audiences, build brand authority, and engage with their customers in new ways. 

Why Start a Podcast? 

Eric Jones’s Sales Intersection ranks among the US top 20 podcasts. In an interview with Forbes, Jones explains that he started the podcast after deciding he wanted to be more than a sales representative. He dedicated his efforts to creating a legacy with more impact, passion, and purpose. Eric Jones uses his podcast to help salespeople to adapt to the ever-changing environment of sales. He has a specific focus on how to effectively use podcasts and video for marketing, sales, and personal branding. 

From a marketer’s perspective, podcasts can be used to enhance brand loyalty. As a marketing channel, podcasts are extremely economical—particularly when compared with social media management and paid ads, which can become costly quickly. Starting a podcast only involves a one-time investment in software and equipment, then minimal ongoing costs like editing and hosting fees. Compared with other marketing channels, producing a podcast is an affordable means for businesses of all sizes to reach and engage with new customers. 

The strength of podcasts lies in their accessibility and adaptability. They appeal to modern consumers and corporate leadership, both of whom are seeking convenient, easily digestible content that they can consume despite their hectic, on-the-go lifestyles. Intimate, engaging, and flexible, podcasts allow you to communicate directly with their target audiences. They have the potential to break through the noise of conventional advertising methods to create a space in which you can authentically share their stories, express their values, and connect with potential new customers. 

Podcasting and the Marketing Funnel 

To leverage podcasts to full effect, marketers need to deploy them appropriately across the various stages of the marketing funnel. At the top of the funnel, the focus is on attracting new customers. At this stage, podcasts can be particularly effective, offering a means of engaging with a broad audience of potential customers to showcase the brand. By providing value in the form of thought-provoking, informative, and entertaining content, businesses can capture the attention of potential customers. 

The middle of the marketing funnel focuses on cultivating potential customers. At this point, podcasts can provide a more personal and intimate means of connecting with people who are a good fit with your brand. You can share your mission, values, and culture in order to deepen relationships with your audience and create a sense of community around your brand. 

At the bottom of the funnel, marketers concentrate on converting leads into sales. Podcasts can play a critical role at this stage, too, providing an entertaining and engaging way of communicating detailed information about specific services or products. Offering exclusive promotions or discounts to podcast listeners can be a very effective means of converting potential buyers into paying customers. 

Podcasts Are Evergreen 

Compared with traditional marketing channels, podcasts can engage customers in a completely different way. People tend to be in a relaxed and attentive state when listening to a podcast, making them more attentive to the content. A podcast is an intimate medium that allows businesses to build connections with audiences, promulgating trust and helping them to establish themselves in their industry. 

In terms of long-term ROI, podcasts offer a potentially impressive return, since once an episode is produced, it can be consumed by listeners and shared for months or even years to come. This means that content generated for a podcast has a much longer shelf life than many other types of market content, such as email campaigns and social media posts. 

Podcasts are more than just another advertising platform. They are a vital content marketing tool. When implemented strategically, a podcast can increase your company’s visibility, foster customer loyalty, and promote thought leadership. Due to their conversational nature, podcasts are ideal for discussing industry trends, introducing new services or products, and addressing complex topics in an engaging and relatable way. 

7 of the Best E-Commerce Startups in Egypt

E-commerce is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Middle East. Recent projections estimate that the region’s retail e-commerce sales alone will top $48 billion by 2022, after experiencing an unprecedented 19.80 percent in growth in 2020.

As the Middle Eastern e-commerce market continues to expand, the region’s startups will play an important role in meeting ever-increasing consumer demand. The Egyptian startup scene has already produced a number of thriving e-commerce platforms that focus on everything from auto parts to beauty products. Here’s a look at some of the best e-commerce startups in Egypt today:

1. Kemitt

Since 2018, Kemitt has built an online marketplace where consumers can shop for furniture and decor. The startup sells everything from rugs to storage units, with designs from several cultures. This diverse catalog of items allows Kemitt’s customers to find everything they need for their homes.

At the same time, Kemitt works with local furniture makers to help them sell their one-of-a-kind designs online. The startup handles all aspects of ordering and shipping, so sellers can easily fulfill orders.

In spring 2021, Kemitt closed a funding round worth six figures. This funding will help the startup’s team realize its goals for market expansion and technology adoption. Ultimately, the team wants Kemitt to become the go-to online platform for furniture shopping in the Middle East.

2. Source Beauty

Cairo-based startup Source Beauty has spent the last three years growing into one of the most in-demand beauty marketplaces in the Arab world. Founder Lydia Schoonderbeek started the company as a blog, where she shared information about beauty products to help her readers make better choices about their own purchases. By 2018, she had launched the Source Beauty e-commerce site, targeting Egyptian women seeking a one-stop-shop for quality skincare, makeup, fragrances, and health products.

Source Beauty sells more than 3,500 products spanning 80 brands, many of which are Egyptian companies. The startup has also partnered with several international brands that facilitate their manufacturing processes in Egypt. In addition, the Source Beauty website features written content, with articles on topics like easy skincare routines and how to keep your hair looking fresh between washes.

3. Yodawy

Known as a “guide to health and wellbeing,” Yodawy is a website and mobile application that features a broad catalog of pharmaceutical and health products. The startup features an intuitive user interface that makes it easy for customers to find and shop for personal hygiene products, baby items, cosmetics, and more. Yodawy also connects users to more than 4,000 pharmacies in Egypt, allowing them to fulfill their healthcare needs at the tap of a button. In addition, the startup has developed an app for healthcare providers to instantly send prescriptions to local pharmacies for their patients. 

Outside of e-commerce, Yodawy has developed several healthcare-focused platforms serving the Egyptian market. For instance, the startup’s Pharmacy Benefit Management portal serves as a point of contact between pharmacies, patients, and their insurance providers.

4. Fakahany

Serving users in more than a dozen districts across Cairo, Fakahany is a mobile app for busy people who don’t have time to shop for groceries, but still want to enjoy fresh produce. A proponent of the farm-to-table movement, the startup prides itself on offering the freshest fruits and vegetables possible. Fakahany’s team handles all aspects of the daily order fulfillment process, from sourcing new produce to packaging orders. The startup can deliver to homes or offices.

5. The Baby Garage (TBG)

A mobile app designed for parents, TBG allows users to buy and sell children’s products. Parents can easily browse through available items from other sellers, or list their most wanted products for other users to see. If they have any children’s items they no longer need, they can create listings of their own to either sell or donate the products. By creating a virtual marketplace, TBG provides users with the best deals on kid’s items and fosters an online community of parents.

6. DressCode

Launched in 2019, DressCode is revolutionizing the Egyptian fashion and lifestyle market with its e-commerce solution. The website features products from both up-and-coming names and well-known brands, giving customers a variety of choices and styles. DressCode has begun selling cosmetics and home design products as well.

To meet the growing demands of Egyptian shoppers, DressCode has also developed its own product line. This label, which makes up the majority of its sales, employs over 1,400 workers in 35 workshops across Egypt. This dedicated team brings DressCode’s designs to life within a mere two weeks of ideation, which keeps the site’s catalog fresh.

7. Tawfiqia

Entrepreneur Mostafa Zenhom launched Tawfiqia to address a major problem in Egypt’s automotive parts market: an oversaturation of fake products. People often aren’t sure whether the products they’re buying are authentic or not. Disorganization in the market has also made shopping for reliable parts even more difficult.

Tawfiqia has spearheaded digital transformation in this industry in Egypt by creating the first marketplace to work with certified auto parts suppliers and service providers. The startup has built a network of 40 suppliers that sell over 6,000 products first hand. Car owners can easily find products specific to their car models and compare multiple items to find the best deal. They can also find local auto service centers and schedule appointments directly through Tawfiqia.

How to Establish a Startup in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a bustling hub of entrepreneurship amid the fast-growing Middle Eastern startup scene. From home-grown innovators to ex-pats, entrepreneurs from all walks of life have flocked to the UAE to set up businesses. However, successfully launching a startup in the UAE isn’t as easy as renting an office and marketing your products to the local populace. There are several important steps that you will need to take if you want to join other like-minded entrepreneurs and set up shop in the UAE.

Here’s a breakdown of each step so that you can get started on your own startup journey:

Understand the business environment.

The business climate in the UAE is unique to others in the Middle East, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with it if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur. Most people living in the UAE are ex-pats, many of whom have set up businesses of their own. As such, the country has numerous protocols in place to make foreign investment and entrepreneurship easier than ever. The UAE recently decided to grant foreigners 100 percent ownership in the startups they set up locally if they focus their work on one of 13 sectors such as manufacturing and hospitality.

The UAE’s business culture is also different from other countries. There is a clear hierarchy that businesses follow, and the local attitude toward business dealings tends to be conservative. You should be prepared to take a hands-on approach to business relationships since UAE locals prefer to communicate face to face and build strong personal connections with their colleagues.

Decide where you’d like to set up your business.

In the UAE, businesses can operate in one of three economic zones, or jurisdictions. If you were to set up your startup as a mainland business, then you would be free to accept contracts from the government and conduct trade within the UAE market with no hassle. Offshore companies enjoy tax benefits as well as the added advantage of being able to retain 100 percent of their profits and business ownership. However, they only receive certificates of incorporation, not operating licenses.

Many startups choose to set up shop in one of the many free zones scattered across the UAE. These jurisdictions offer the most support to the business that operate within them. By launching your startup in a free zone, you will also have no restrictions on currency and fewer tax liabilities.

Pick a name for your startup.

Businesses in the UAE must follow certain protocols when selecting their names, so you should familiarize yourself with these rules. Aside from more obvious naming taboos like offensive language, your startup’s trade name shouldn’t include any political or religious references. You can name your startup after yourself, but you must use your full name and not an abbreviation. It’s also important to check with the UAE’s Department of Economic Development (DED) to ensure that no other business has registered under the name you have chosen.

Register your startup.

As you approach launch day, you will need to take the important step of registering your startup in the UAE. You will begin this process by applying for a business/trade license. The UAE offers four kinds of licenses: commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism. If you’re launching your startup in a free zone, however, you must apply for a license specific to that zone.

Registering your business will happen concurrently with licensing. This process involves obtaining approval from DED-specified government authorities and submitting documentation for your startup.

Set up a bank account.

You can’t start doing business in the UAE until you open a bank account, but only after you register your business and obtain a license. With all the required documentation in hand, you can then begin contacting banks to set up your corporate account. Fortunately, the UAE has numerous options to choose from, including local names like the Commercial Bank of Dubai and international banks such as Barclays.

Once you choose a bank, they will interview you about your business. They will ask you to submit your trade license, board resolution, and other documents to verify the status of your startup. Any ex-pats you have as business partners must also submit copies of their passports. Some banks will even ask to see your business plan before allowing you to set up an account with them.

Find local help.

Although the UAE has changed its laws regarding foreign business ownership, there are some areas of business that still require entrepreneurs to enlist the help of a local partner. If you are an ex-pat who wants to establish a startup in a “strategic” sector like transport, energy, and telecommunications, then you will not be allowed to own every share of your business. Your local partner must retain a 51 percent majority of your startup, with you and your other foreign shareholders retaining 49 percent.

A local partner isn’t the only resource you need to thrive as an entrepreneur in the UAE. You should also consider applying to a startup accelerator or incubator to help your business get off the ground. These entities offer everything from mentorship opportunities and workspace to funding and networking—all in the effort to fuel the growth of your startup.

Top 7 Tips for First-Time Entrepreneurs

Launching a startup is daunting for even the most experienced entrepreneurs. For those who have never tried starting a business before, it can be even more intimidating. You may not know everything about running a startup going in, but you can position yourself for future success by following the right advice.

Let’s look at some of the tips that every first-time entrepreneur should follow:

1. Do what you love.

Starting a new business isn’t easy, especially if it’s your first time. You’ll need to commit a significant amount of your own money and time to make it a success. To give your startup the best chance, you should tap into one of your passions. Whether you love to travel or want to make the world a better place, turning one of your interests into a business model will keep you motivated when the going gets tough.

Many budding entrepreneurs make the mistake of simply focusing on products and services that they think will fill a gap in the market. It doesn’t matter if you think a startup with an innovative new payment portal will be a success. If you aren’t passionate and knowledgeable about what you do, then your business won’t go very far.

2. Network whenever possible.

Networking will be an invaluable tool to you throughout your entrepreneurial journey. You should seize networking opportunities whenever they present themselves. Startup events are some of the best arenas for networking, as they put you in direct contact with your fellow entrepreneurs as well as potential investors and mentors. You should also use networking sites like LinkedIn to connect with others. However you choose to do so, cultivating a diverse network will ensure that you have every resource available to succeed.

3. Have a plan, but be flexible.

You can’t even think about building a thriving startup without a well-laid-out business plan to guide you. This plan should cover all the bases, highlighting your concept, market value, finances, and more. Not only will a good business plan provide the vision that you need to move forward, but it will also make it easier to woo investors or acquire financing.

As important as a business plan is, it is even more crucial that you don’t hold to it too firmly. Over time, you’ll encounter challenges and gain more experience that could lead you to reconsider aspects of your original business plan. You can (and should) make tweaks to your plan as your situation evolves. Failing to adapt in this way could spell disaster for your startup.

4. Build the best team possible.

New entrepreneurs frequently make the mistake of failing to hire the right employees for their startups. Building the wrong team can destroy your business faster than you may think—but you won’t be able to do it all on your own forever.

When you do start the recruitment process, you’ll need to take it slow. Look for candidates with ample experience and a background in your market. Make sure that these individuals will be flexible enough to wear different hats.

Working at a startup will require everyone on the team to take on several different responsibilities, so you have to make sure that they’ll be up to the task. Also, you should hire people that will be a good fit with your company culture while embracing diversity.

5. Get to know your audience.

Understanding your customer will be one of the most important objectives of your growing startup. The more you get to know about them, the better you will be able to fulfill their wants and needs. Many businesses struggle with this, so it’s vital that you get it right.

You can use numerous tactics to achieve this goal, from surveys to communicating via social media. Listen to what they have to say, even if it’s negative. By getting to know them, you’ll have more feedback to fuel the growth of your business.

6. Embrace failure.

Failure is an inevitable part of life, especially when it comes to being an entrepreneur. Perhaps you fail to woo an investor that you wanted, or maybe you make a mistake that alienates some of your customer base. Whatever form it may take, failure is normal and nothing to fear.

Rather, you should embrace failure as part of the learning process. You can decide to sit around and dwell on your failures or use them as a tool for improvement. Learning from them will make you a far better entrepreneur in the long run and help you build a stronger business.

7. Manage your time and energy wisely.

Building a successful startup won’t happen overnight. You must be ready to put everything into your business if you want to get it off the ground. For entrepreneurs, this means spending more time in the office than the typical employee. Unfortunately, many passionate entrepreneurs dedicate themselves so fully to their startups that everything else in their lives falls by the wayside. It is easier than you think to get wrapped up in running your business and neglect friends, family, and even yourself.

As such, time management will be critical when launching a new business. You need to create a healthy balance between running your startup and focusing on your other obligations. More importantly, you need to learn how to manage your energy. Running yourself ragged trying to operate your business will, ultimately, limit your ability to get things done. It may take some trial and error, but creating the right work-life balance will be pivotal to your work as an entrepreneur.

A Look at the Best Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Launching a business is challenging no matter your age or experience, but it can be even more difficult for young entrepreneurs to find their footing while learning the ropes of running a new startup.

Business ownership can be incredibly fulfilling, but your inexperience may make it seem impossible to build a thriving startup. With the right advice, however, you can overcome all of the hurdles that stand between you and success—and learn just how exciting entrepreneurship can be.

Here are a few tips that all young entrepreneurs should follow when first starting out:

Identify your strengths.

You may not have the same job experience as older entrepreneurs, but that doesn’t mean that you are without your own strengths. Take inventory of your existing skills. Are you an adept writer? You can leverage your writing expertise to craft engaging marketing materials for your business. Perhaps you have a bit of experience with human resources. This will give you the know-how to build and manage a great startup team. No matter what strengths you may already possess, you must draw upon them when embarking on your new business venture.

Know you’ll have to make sacrifices.

Running a successful startup isn’t as simple as working 40-hour weeks. Even if you’ve heard of a company that was an “overnight success,” you’ll find that the business’ founders put in thousands of hours of hard work before it started gaining notoriety.

Entrepreneurship is about making sacrifices, which means you’ll need to put in the work if you want your business to overcome the odds.

Even so, managing your time and energy wisely will be key to the success of your startup. Pushing yourself too hard will make you less productive and won’t get your business anywhere. You’ll need to learn how to balance the needs of your startup with your own needs—a difficult but necessary feat.

Tap into your passion.

Given the amount of dedication it takes to build a thriving startup, you should focus on something that you’re passionate about. You should never start a business for the sake of starting a business. You’ll find no satisfaction in your work unless you pursue something you’re interested in.

Whether you love music or travel, you should identify the things you love the most and use them as inspiration for your business. Doing something you enjoy will make you more motivated to work every day and allow you to lend your personal experiences to your startup vision.

Hire the right people.

You can’t make your business a success on your own. You’ll need a team of talented, like-minded professionals to bring your ideas to fruition. When building your team, you should look for people whose values align with your startup. This will strengthen your company culture and, ideally, reduce your turnover rates (something that will be vital as you get your startup off the ground). Hiring new candidates can be expensive, so you want to ensure that you onboard the right people the first time around.

Build a good rapport with your customers.

Being a successful entrepreneur is about far more than just identifying your customer base. You’ll need to cultivate a relationship with your customers if you want your startup to thrive. Listen closely to your clientele, whether they are giving you positive feedback or complaints. Both forms of input will help you understand exactly what customers want to see from your startup and empower you to continually exceed their expectations. You’ll gain a stronger following and a better business as a result.

Connect with a mentor.

You may be the founder of your startup, but it doesn’t mean that you have all the expertise needed to grow your business. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You may not know everything about running a startup, but there are plenty of others who do. As such, you should connect with a mentor who can help guide you on your startup journey. Take every opportunity to learn from their experiences and use their advice to move your startup forward. 

Have a plan in place.

You’ll need more than a vision for your startup if you want it to become lucrative. Having a clear business plan will be essential to the future of your business, since it will give you a way to measure your progress and determine which steps you still need to take. As part of your plan, you should set both short- and long-term goals for your startup. These will help you keep on track while you work toward your bigger objectives—and give you a better chance at success.

Don’t be afraid to go for it.

If you have a business idea that you’re passionate about, then you shouldn’t be afraid to take the leap and launch your startup. Some of the most prolific entrepreneurs say that they wouldn’t have had any regrets if their businesses had failed—only if they hadn’t tried in the first place. You can spend all the time in the world worrying about finances, potential outcomes, and business plans, but you shouldn’t let it prevent you from getting started on your entrepreneurial journey.