The best digital marketing podcasts are both entertaining and full of useful information. Listening to them makes your commute whiz by in a blur of productive learning. Each online marketing podcast below is informative and interesting, and produced on a regular schedule.  (Consistency in podcasting is a big challenge, as there are a number of good podcasts out there with spotty schedules).

As a bonus, each podcast has supplemental web-based resources you can dive into when the material covered deserves more than just a cursory listen.

1. Marketing Over Coffee with Christopher Penn and John J. Wall (weekly, 20-30 minutes long)

I enjoy listening to these two because they’re both extremely knowledgeable and simpatico. Imagine Siskel and Ebert if they had liked each other. John Wall acts as host, everyman, color commentator and well-informed straight man to Christopher Penn’s nerd-in-the-know.  They discuss everything from analytics to SEO, email marketing, mobile, PPC, social media and copywriting.

What’s great: Wealth, breadth, and depth of information; supplemental LinkedIn group; helpful links on the website; video accompaniment when necessary for demos.

Heard often from Christopher:  How valuable Google Analytics is, often with quick demo examples.

Heard often from John:  How important mobile is; quirky, often-in-jest transition to sponsor promo; “I’ll throw the link on the website”.

Deserves an award for:  Best Digital Marketing Podcast, Best Social Media Podcast, Best Host and Co-Host Repartee, Best Podcast Titles

2. Social Pros by Jay Baer of Convince and Convert (weekly, 25-35 minutes long)

Jay Baer must have had a 2012 new year’s business resolution to create a successful podcast, and that, he did – with Eric Boggs of Argyle Social.  Their description of Social Pros: “We shine the spotlight on social media practitioners: real people doing real work in social media.” I see Social Pros as a collection of “slice of life” conversations with diverse, in-the-trenches people who are actually using the best practices presented in Marketing Over Coffee.  So the two podcasts are quite complementary.

What’s great:  Informational Q&A with a social media manager working in the real world. Also, Jay’s friendliness, quick wit and extensive industry knowledge make him a great host.

Heard often from Jay:  ”There needs to be a social media management solution in the midsize business space.”

Deserves an award for:  Fastest Ramp-Up of a Solid Social Media Podcast, Rookie of the Year Marketing Podcast, Best Real Marketing Pros Podcast

3. Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel of TwistImage (weekly, 30-60 minutes long)

Mitch Joel described himself in a recent podcast as having a “passion for and deep repugnance for” marketing – and this defines his approach. He asks tough, insightful questions of his guests, and takes them to task if necessary in his polite, Canadian way. (Side note:  his opening music reminds me of one of my favorite shows, Arrested Development.)

What’s great:  Consistent high quality over the years, longevity, staying power (332 episodes since 2006!)

Heard often from Mitch: “So… Who are you and what do you do?”

Deserves an award for:  Longest Running Successful Marketing Podcast, Best North American Marketing Podcast

4. Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch (bi-weekly, 20-30 minutes long)

John Jantsch interviews various authors and entrepreneurs, so you hear thought leadership not only on marketing-related topics, but on small business matters in general.  John, obviously a voracious reader, asks thoughtful questions from both the audience’s perspective, as well as from his own very informed perspective.

What’s great: John is very knowledgeable and asks tough, non-softball-type questions. On his website, he does the heavy lifting by summarizing the author’s main points; so if you’re pressed for time or need a review, just read John’s synopsis.

Heard often from John:  Mannish giggling.

Deserves an award for:  Best Small Business Marketing Podcast, Best Small Business Podcast

5. Marketing Update by Hubspot (format is changing)

This is a newbie to my repertoire, so I’m not as familiar with it, but Hubspot produces such fantastic content in general, that I have the highest hopes for this podcast.  Hubspot recently changed its podcast/videocast format from a live audience to a recorded version, which is much better for a wider audience. The current two hosts, Karen Rubin and Mike Volpe, work well together, and I am happy to finally hear a woman on a marketing podcast.

What’s great:  It’s a quick wrap-up of timely digital marketing highlights.  The website has a comprehensive, link-rich summary of each podcast.  The twitter hashtag is #MktgUp, but now that the videocast is no longer live, I’m not sure how active the hashtag will be.

Heard often:  ”The marketing takeaway is…”  Hubspot ends each news segment by summarizing the main marketing lesson, which is helpful.

Deserves an award for: Podcast with Enormous Potential, Best Web-based Summary of a Podcast

Those are my favorite, don’t-miss, top podcasts.  What would you add to this list?

Suzanne
@suzanne_doughty

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