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Alexa Amazon Echo Google Home Radio Smart Home Techsurvey

Smart speakers are this year's trending gifts

We recently collaborated with our sister company, Jacobs Media and Sonic Ai on a national study regarding smart speakers. Our online study shows that one in five (20%) respondents age 13 and older with Internet access plan to purchase a voice-controlled smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home during the 2017 holiday season.
Notably, more than one in six online households (18%) now own at least one smart speaker, with 40% of this group already having two or more of the devices in their household. Smart speaker owners are also especially likely to purchase another of these voice command gadgets for themselves or as a gift this holiday season. In fact, six in ten smart speaker owners (61%) plan to purchase at least one more device during this all-important gift-buying cycle.
The study also shows that one in ten online households (11%) specifically owns an Alexa-enabled Amazon smart speaker such as the Echo, Echo Dot and Show devices; the majority of these owners (69%) have at least one Alexa “skill” enabled, while 45% have two or more Alexa “skills” enabled.
Bob Kernen, COO of jācapps, notes, “With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now in the rearview mirror, both Amazon and Google continue to compete heavily to get as many of their smart speakers, now at their lowest price points ever, into as large a number of households as possible. This data strongly suggests smart speaker ownership will take off in the coming weeks.”
“Smart speakers are clearly the must-have gadget for the holidays. Like anything else, habits will form quickly which is the remarkable opportunity for broadcasters and podcasters. They need a smart audio strategy for smart speakers,” said Steve Goldstein, co-founder of Sonic Ai.
We can develop Alexa skills for your business. Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more!

Categories
Alexa Amazon Echo Google Home Radio Smart Home Techsurvey

Smart speakers are this year’s trending gifts

We recently collaborated with our sister company, Jacobs Media and Sonic Ai on a national study regarding smart speakers. Our online study shows that one in five (20%) respondents age 13 and older with Internet access plan to purchase a voice-controlled smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home during the 2017 holiday season.

Notably, more than one in six online households (18%) now own at least one smart speaker, with 40% of this group already having two or more of the devices in their household. Smart speaker owners are also especially likely to purchase another of these voice command gadgets for themselves or as a gift this holiday season. In fact, six in ten smart speaker owners (61%) plan to purchase at least one more device during this all-important gift-buying cycle.

The study also shows that one in ten online households (11%) specifically owns an Alexa-enabled Amazon smart speaker such as the Echo, Echo Dot and Show devices; the majority of these owners (69%) have at least one Alexa “skill” enabled, while 45% have two or more Alexa “skills” enabled.

Bob Kernen, COO of jācapps, notes, “With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now in the rearview mirror, both Amazon and Google continue to compete heavily to get as many of their smart speakers, now at their lowest price points ever, into as large a number of households as possible. This data strongly suggests smart speaker ownership will take off in the coming weeks.”

“Smart speakers are clearly the must-have gadget for the holidays. Like anything else, habits will form quickly which is the remarkable opportunity for broadcasters and podcasters. They need a smart audio strategy for smart speakers,” said Steve Goldstein, co-founder of Sonic Ai.

We can develop Alexa skills for your business. Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more!

Categories
Podcasting Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 7 Takeaways Regarding Podcast Listening

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, hosts their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps radio stations better understand their brand and, more importantly, their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is what role podcasting plays for radio stations.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how radio listeners consume podcasts:

  • 21% of respondents listen to podcasts on a weekly basis or more. Furthermore, weekly or more podcast listening is the highest with Millennials at 33%.
  • 18% said they listen to 3-5 podcasts per week and 12% listen to 6 or more.
  • 45% hang around the house when they’re listening to podcasts and 37% said they are driving when listening. Additionally, 36% of those who were surveyed listen to podcasts while at work.
  • 51% of podcast listeners prefer to listen on their smartphone while 30% prefer their desktop/laptop.
  • 45% of respondents prefer music as their main podcast category, followed by radio shows that aired at 39%.
  • 38% of those surveyed use a web browser to listen to podcasts and 37% use the iTunes/Apple podcast app.
  • 16% of radio listeners said they’re listening to less radio due to podcasts with Millennials totaling 24%.

Take a look at jācapps Podcast Listening in 2017 Infographic below:

jācapps Podcast Listening in 2017 Infographic

 
So, what’s the best way of delivering podcasts and other on-demand content to your audience? Clearly, it’s with a mobile app. With Apple and Google getting involved in the connected car ecosystem, and more than a third of respondents driving while listening, the car is an important place for your brand to deliver its content.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Podcasting Radio Techsurvey

6 Ways Podcasting Can Help Your Business Grow

With the growth of smart technology, podcasting has exploded in popularity.  The number of active podcasts and their listeners has skyrocketed, creating more opportunities for businesses to reach their target customers.  As Small Business Trends reports, there are 6 major benefits for companies that create podcasts:

  1. Alternative to video
    • Creating an attention grabbing video can be challenging for some businesses, as well as expensive.  Since we live in an “on the go” world, it can be more effective to provide audiences with content to listen to rather than watch.
  2. Audience generation
    • There are many opportunities to reach new audiences through podcasting.  Podcasting is a great way for interested people to sample your content.
  3. Build audience relationships
    • People form relationships with the podcasts they subscribe to.  They want to gain a sense of familiarity and trust from who they’re listening to.
  4. Easy to create
    • Podcasting is a cost effective way to reach your audience.  Most equipment is reasonably priced and basic editing software is free.
  5. Engagement tool
    • As previously stated, people want a sense of trust with the podcasters they listen to.  Products promoted on air are likely to be purchased by frequent listeners.  A survey conducted on 300,000 listeners found that 63% of listeners that responded purchased the products promoted by hosts.
  6. Improve public speaking skills
    • Hosting podcasts allows you to develop confidence in public speaking.  Speaking effectively to your target audience helps you to promote your business.

So, what’s the best way of delivering podcasts and other on-demand content to your audience? With a mobile app, of course. And an app that puts you front and center in the connected car ecosystem. More than a third of respondents reported driving while listening, so the car is an important place for your brand to deliver its content.
If you’re currently involved with podcasting, or looking to get involved, make sure to check out the largest gathering of podcasters in the world at Podcast Movement. This year, it takes place in Anaheim, CA from August 23-25. And, if you work in/around radio and would like $100 off your Podcast Movement registration, our sister company, Jacobs Media, was nice enough to provide a discount code. Use JACOBS100 for the $100 discount when you register here.

Podcast Movement 2017: Broadcasters Meet Podcasters


As always, you can reach out to us by clicking here. Or, you can give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Categories
Mobile Apps Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 9 Takeaways Regarding Mobile Technology

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, fields their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps media companies better understand their audiences, and their brand, in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is the evolving role of mobile technology.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how consumers use mobile technology:

  • 87% of respondents own a smartphone. This number has increased by 25% since Techsurvey9.
  • 97% of Millennials own a smartphone. Moreover, 92% of both GenX-ers and GenZ-ers own a smartphone.
  • 41% said they are addicted to their mobile phone, with Millennials topping out at 63%.
  • 27% of radio listeners said mobile apps were the main reason for listening to less radio. GenZ-ers topped the list at 57%.
  • Among cell phone, smartphone, or tablet owners, 44% wake up using their phone/tablet – a 4% increase since Techsurvey11.
  • 26% of smartphone/tablet owners reported to have downloaded their home station’s mobile app. 23% are aware that their home station has a mobile app, but have not downloaded it.
  • Among smartphone/tablet owners who have downloaded their home station’s mobile app
    • 57% use the app for streaming either frequently or occasionally.
    • 45% rate the mobile app as being good and 29% rate the mobile app as being excellent.
  • 64% of respondents connect their mobile phone/mp3 in the vehicle driven or ridden in most often.

The popularity and addictive quality of mobile devices is something every brand should tap into in their own unique way. You should be thinking about what unique content or service you can deliver to your listeners. Over the past decade, we have experienced first-hand the joy apps deliver to our clients. Having your brand appear on the screen of your audience’s most precious possession is a rush, and maybe the most important part of future-proofing your radio station.
Click here to reach out to us today to talk about your mobile strategy. You can also call us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Categories
Techsurvey Voice Commands

Techsurvey13: 6 Takeaways Regarding Voice Command Technology

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, fields Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it identifies key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps companies better understand their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly and how their brand is represented in that world. One of the insights this survey provides is the emerging role of voice command technology.

Here are some of the key takeaways about how consumers use voice command technology:

  • 88% of respondents reported to have a radio where they live – down 1% from the previous year. But only 76% of Millennials have a radio where they live.
  • 11% of survey-takers own a smart speaker such as Amazon Echo (“Alexa”) or Google Home.
  • Overall, 20% said they use the voice command features on devices they own on a frequent basis. That includes connected car systems, smartphones, etc. Furthermore, about 1 out of every 4 GenX-ers use these features frequently.
  • 25% said they use voice commands occasionally.
  • Among those who own smart speakers, 47% use the built-in voice command feature frequently.
  • 38% of smartwatch owners use the built-in voice command feature on a frequent basis as well.

At jācapps, we understand the power of voice and how it has the potential to change the way people listen to radio, podcasts, etc. in their homes and their cars. That’s why we debuted SonicAi, a joint venture with Amplifi Media that develops “skills” for voice-command devices, or smart speakers, like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Click here to reach out to us and set up a conversation about how voice command technology will impact your brand. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email us at sales@jacapps.com.

Categories
Podcasting Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 7 Takeaways Regarding Podcast Listening

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, hosts their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps radio stations better understand their brand and, more importantly, their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is what role podcasting plays for radio stations.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how radio listeners consume podcasts:

  • 21% of respondents listen to podcasts on a weekly basis or more. Furthermore, weekly or more podcast listening is the highest with Millennials at 33%.
  • 18% said they listen to 3-5 podcasts per week and 12% listen to 6 or more.
  • 45% hang around the house when they’re listening to podcasts and 37% said they are driving when listening. Additionally, 36% of those who were surveyed listen to podcasts while at work.
  • 51% of podcast listeners prefer to listen on their smartphone while 30% prefer their desktop/laptop.
  • 45% of respondents prefer music as their main podcast category, followed by radio shows that aired at 39%.
  • 38% of those surveyed use a web browser to listen to podcasts and 37% use the iTunes/Apple podcast app.
  • 16% of radio listeners said they’re listening to less radio due to podcasts with Millennials totaling 24%.

So, what’s the best way of delivering podcasts and other on-demand content to your audience? Clearly, it’s with a mobile app. With Apple and Google getting involved in the connected car ecosystem, and more than a third of respondents driving while listening, the car is an important place for your brand to deliver its content.
If you’re currently involved with podcasting, or looking to get involved, make sure to check out the largest gathering of podcasters in the world at Podcast Movement. This year, it takes place in Anaheim, CA from August 23-25. And, if you work in/around radio and would like $100 off your Podcast Movement registration, our sister company, Jacobs Media, was nice enough to provide a discount code. Use JACOBS100 for the $100 discount when you register here.

Podcast Movement 2017: Broadcasters Meet Podcasters

 

As always, you can reach out to us by clicking here. Or, you can give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Categories
Connected Car Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 6 Takeaways Regarding the Connected Car

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, hosts their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps radio stations better understand their brand and, more importantly, their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is what role the connected car plays for radio stations.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about consumers and their connected cars:
  • 64% of respondents can connect their mobile phone/mp3 in the car they drive or ride in most often.
  • In-car media system ownership rose to 22%. Last year, 20% of respondents owned an in-car media system and the year before, only 18%.
  • 66% said they either like or love their in-car media system.
  • The percentage of time spent in a car with AM/FM totaled 64%. Listeners’ personal music totaled 11%, while streaming audio and podcasts came in at 4% each.
  • AM/FM radio remained the most important feature among those planning on buying/leasing a new vehicle in 2017. Bluetooth comes in at number two, with a 5% percent increase from last year. Not surprisingly, the need for a CD player in the car dropped 18%.
  • Listeners’ attitude towards autonomous cars remained steady with 22% of respondents saying they like the idea. At 32%, millennials are the most enthusiastic about autonomous cars and males seem to like the idea more than females.

The connected car is radio’s biggest challenge, but it’s also radio’s biggest opportunity. One thing is for sure – the car isn’t what it used to be. We can help you maintain your place there as this crucial ecosystem evolves.
The key to staying connected starts with us! Click here to reach out to us today. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com to learn how your station can stay connected.