Podcast Ads That Resonate - Anna Ratala - Creating The Greatest Show - Episode # 062

Today, we have a special guest—a business leader, serial entrepreneur, and passionate storyteller. Meet Anna Ratala, the Founder & CEO of Zvook, a cutting-edge podcast advertising platform designed for the modern marketer. Zvook, inspired by storytellers and driven by AI, enables brands to effortlessly discover relevant podcasts and book host-read ads with a few clicks—no sales calls or budget minimums required. Additionally, Anna hosts the Found(H)er Mind Podcast, offering an audio journal insight into the journey of a startup founder and the behind-the-scenes of building a venture-backed business. Takeaways:Be authentic and passionate about your journey or topic. Don't overly tailor content to the audience; let them gather around your genuine passion. Keep the podcast conversational, making listeners feel like they're part of an engaging discussion.Choose guests wisely, especially in the beginning. Opt for those comfortable with podcasts to ease into a conversational flow. Prioritize a relaxed atmosphere; practice with friends if needed. When recording, forget about the "record" button—be genuine to yourself, overcoming the initial fear of being on air.In podcasts, authenticity matters more than scripted perfection; let your genuine voice and personality come through for a more engaging and relatable experience.Create a safe space for yourself and your guests to be genuine, fostering a truly engaging and authentic atmosphere. Your authenticity sets the tone for your guests to feel comfortable and be themselves.People dislike bad and poorly targeted ads, not ads in general. Focus on creating authentic, well-targeted ads that tell compelling stories about products and services. In modern advertising, authenticity matters—shift from hard selling to creating emotional connections and experiences that resonate with your audience.Harness the power of influence and word of mouth. People trust recommendations, whether from friends or familiar influencers like podcast hosts. Building a genuine connection fosters a sense of familiarity, making your brand more relatable and appealing.Boost your podcast's reach by advertising on similar podcasts. This approach is effective as you're not pushing sales; instead, you're leveraging the existing podcast-listening habit. Listeners are more likely to check out a recommended podcast within the same genre, creating a seamless and successful promotional strategy. Quote of the Show:“People don't hate ads, they hate bad and poorly targeted ads.” - Anna Ratala Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaRatala LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaratala Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zvook-co The Found(H)er Mind Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/found-h-er-mind/id1657616833  Ways to Tune In:Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/h5CEp6Q6C-M Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/