SME South Africa has taken off. Launching this May, the platform, which helps South African entrepreneurs start, manage and grow their businesses, is also available on audio.
Podcasts have grown in popularity in recent years. In fact, it is estimated that nine out of ten South Africans over the age of 18 listen to podcasts. Their prevalence as the top way to consume content is due to the ease of interacting with it across different platforms and the authentic “humanity” they bring in connecting with listeners.
The SME South Africa Podcast is a curated collection of interviews with industry experts and entrepreneurs,” says Marina Steyn, editor of SME South Africa. “It provides authoritative yet accessible professional advice to help you start, manage and grow your business.”
The first few episodes will be available on all major platforms with weekly episode releases on Friday, May 15.
Launching the SME South Africa Podcast
“We know our audiences trust the information we provide and bringing it into an audiovisual format was the logical next step for us,” explains Steyn. “It's not much different from what we're already doing with our monthly webinars, but where webinars focus on actionable advice and live interactions with entrepreneurs, the podcast is on-demand
While it can't be ignored that this was the natural next step for the brand, introducing audio is more than just filling a gap in their offering – it's intrinsic to the aspiration of SME South Africa: an SME ecosystem where South African entrepreneurs are supported through the tools, resources and networks to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
“Making guidance and advice accessible to entrepreneurs is the cornerstone of everything we do. Whether it's providing free downloadable business resources like templates and e-books, or a robust collection of guides and articles that dive into industry updates, exploring the “how-to” side of business or talking to founders about their entrepreneurial journey, our community of entrepreneurs is at the center of our world. As we provide unbiased reviews, funding, and on-demand Providing access to mentorship, offering a podcast that tackles business owners’ relevant, burning questions is another way we serve our audiences and empower them to make informed decisions,” she explains.
Topics that matter to South African entrepreneurs
The SME South Africa Podcast aims to build on the existing content offering that SME South Africa is known for, while allowing us to delve deeper into timely discussions. “Another reason to choose podcasting is to create a conversation between one of our esteemed journalists and a hand-picked expert, where we address relevant topics that speak to real-time issues experienced by South African SMEs. It's raw and real and unscripted. Our guests only share what they've seen firsthand and what solutions they've found to work themselves.”
“In our light Recent article that explores the preparation of business owners As they apply for funding, listeners can look forward to the first few episodes covering how to educate themselves about your business's funding needs, improve funding preparation, and understand the different types of funding.
Access to information without limits
Stan says availability on audio means critical business information can be accessed from anywhere in the world. “For entrepreneurs who are always on the go, you'll be able to hear insightful discussions – it's uninterrupted learning as you walk to your next meeting.
“You can access this expert advice on demand in audio format on all your favorite podcast platforms.
He elaborated that the team is excited to bring more business guidance and insights to all South African entrepreneurs.
“This is just the beginning. We hope to bring to life other podcast series that will focus on topics that our entrepreneurs enjoy or want to explore more, whether it's the entrepreneurial journey or business opportunities. There may also be some brands that support SMEs that can join us on this journey as well.
He concluded, “We are confident that the SME South Africa Podcast will allow every aspiring and practicing entrepreneur to grow through practical insights from industry leaders.”
SME South Africa Podcast is available on youtube, apple podcasts And spotify.