BUS30032 Business Consulting Project Assignment 2A

Introduction

Podcasting has developed into an influential platform for delivering knowledge, engaging professional audiences, and supporting broader business strategies. For organisations, it offers the opportunity to build credibility, strengthen brand positioning, and act as a channel to promote related products or services.

The Critical Few Actions podcast was designed to serve this dual purpose: to provide actionable insights for business leaders while also creating pathways to premium offerings such as the CEO Masterclass and the OPV diagnostic tool. While the podcast has successfully attracted an engaged listener base and demonstrated early visibility within its market, it has not yet translated these strengths into sustainable commercial outcomes.

This report investigates the underlying issues constraining the podcast’s performance. It focuses on three interconnected challenges: audience misalignment, limited monetisation structures, and operational inefficiencies. To address these concerns, the report applies a series of established analytical frameworks — PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces, the 3Cs model, and SWOT — to critically assess both external conditions and internal capabilities. The insights generated through this analysis form the basis for targeted recommendations. These recommendations aim to improve the financial sustainability of the podcast, enhance its audience alignment, and reposition it as a scalable and credible revenue-generating platform.

Recommendations & Saf Framework Assesments

Recommendation One

The proposed solution to monetise the podcast by targeting younger professionals while adjusting the content to retain the existing audience base is suitable, acceptable, and feasible.

This solution aligns with external market trends and audience data, with most listeners aged 25 to 34 engaging with podcasts for career development, and TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook being the 3 major social media platforms among this demographic.

Stakeholders, including listeners and the business, will benefit through enhanced value, new revenue opportunities, and stronger positioning as a trusted knowledge source, while the risks of maintaining the existing audience base are manageable. As the business already manages the production and editing of the podcast, it has the required resources to adopt the solution, although this will result in a minor financial impact.

In addition to the business refining its marketing strategies and adjusting its content to ensure it aligns effectively with the needs and interests of both target audiences.

Recommendation Two

It is recommended to use a tiered pricing structure to monetise the podcast Critical Few Actions. By establishing several subscription tiers — Basic, Mid-Tier, and Premium — this strategy will promote revenue development and enable segmentation.

These models increase consumer choice and encourage advancement to higher tiers by providing unique rewards (Ofek & Konary, 2023). Psychological pricing concepts reinforce this tactic furthermore. According to research, the well-established compromise effect is reflected in the introduction of a premium choice, which serves as an anchor and makes the mid-tier seem more appealing and affordable (Zuora, 2023).

Since most customers choose the mid-tier option, creators can optimise conversions while maintaining reach by providing free access. Furthermore, according to recent subscription research, tiered pricing increases the longevity of engagement and maximizes revenue by capturing varying willingness to pay across groups (Liozu & Hinterhuber, 2023).

This entails preserving accessibility at the entry level, providing noticeable value in the mid-tier, and presenting premium offerings as aspirational for high-value clients and executives, according to The Critical Few Actions podcast.

Figure 7. Proposed Tiered Pricing Model for The Critical Few Actions Podcast

SAF Framework Assessment of Recommendation Two

The tiered pricing strategy is highly suitable as it responds to cost-of-living pressures by offering flexible price points while leveraging psychological pricing effects to optimise conversions. It also aligns with industry trends where subscription models support sustained engagement and revenue growth, ensuring a strong external fit.

In terms of acceptability, the model balances accessibility and profitability. Free access maintains inclusivity for general listeners, while the mid-tier provides affordable added value and the premium tier targets executives. This approach appeals to different audience groups and offers attractive returns for stakeholders without alienating the existing base.

Regarding feasibility, the strategy is achievable with current resources and digital delivery platforms. Producing exclusive episodes, Q&A sessions, and diagnostic tools is realistic within the existing setup, while legal compliance with advertising and privacy laws can be managed.