Most healthcare providers spend $5,000 to $15,000 monthly on Google Ads.
Average cost per patient acquisition: $150 to $400.

And every year, it gets more expensive. More competition. Higher bids. Lower returns.

But there’s a $0 marketing channel getting better results.

No ad spend. No bidding wars. No click costs.

Podcasts.

The Hidden Cost of Paid Advertising

Let’s talk about what you’re actually paying for with Google Ads.

Scenario: Dr. Sarah Martinez (San Diego Medspa)

Monthly Google Ads Budget: $8,000
Average CPC: $12 to $18
Clicks per month: 500 to 650
Conversion rate: 3.5%
Patient consultations booked: 22
Cost per acquisition: $364

Annual ad spend: $96,000
Total patients acquired: 264

That’s $96K just to get people through the door.

And the moment she stops paying, the leads stop coming.

The $0 Alternative

Same practice. Different strategy.

Dr. Martinez switched to podcasts.

Podcast Results

Monthly podcast budget: $0 after initial placement fees
Podcast appearances: 6 to 8 quarterly
Average listeners per podcast: 5,000
Website visits from podcast traffic: 180 monthly
Conversion rate: 19% from high intent listeners
Patient consultations booked: 34
Cost per acquisition: $0

Result

12 more patient calls monthly at zero ongoing cost.

Why Podcasts Outperform Paid Ads

1. Trust Factor

Google Ads

• Person clicks an ad
• First time hearing about you
• High skepticism
• “Is this legitimate?”

Podcasts

• Person hears you speak for 30 to 45 minutes
• Understands your expertise
• Trusts you before booking
• “I already know this person”

The Difference

Podcast listeners book consultations at 5 to 6 times the rate of ad clickers because trust is already built.

2. Intent Quality

Google Ads Attract

• Price shoppers
• Comparison browsers
• Low intent traffic
• No show rate: 20% to 30%

Podcasts Attract

• High intent listeners
• People who invested 30+ minutes learning about you
• Pre qualified prospects
• No show rate: 8% to 12%

The Difference

Better leads create higher conversion rates and stronger ROI.

3. Longevity

Google Ads

• Stop paying = stop getting leads
• Zero residual value
• Must pay every month forever

Podcasts

• One appearance generates traffic for 6 to 18 months
• Evergreen content
• Compounds over time
• Gets stronger with every episode

The Math

1 podcast recorded today can still drive traffic 12 months from now.

6 podcasts quarterly = 24 podcasts annually = a permanent traffic machine.

Real Numbers: Side by Side Comparison

We tracked two identical practices for 12 months.

Practice A: Google Ads Strategy

Monthly ad spend: $10,000
Annual ad spend: $120,000
Patient calls per month: 25
Annual patient calls: 300
Cost per call: $400

Stop paying and leads stop immediately.

Practice B: Podcast Strategy

Initial investment: $8,497 (Total Authority Package)
Ongoing cost: $0
Podcast appearances Year 1: 24 (6 per quarter)

Patient Calls Growth

• Months 1 to 3: 8 calls
• Months 4 to 6: 18 calls
• Months 7 to 9: 28 calls
• Months 10 to 12: 34 calls

Annual patient calls: 264

Cost Per Call

• First year: $32
• Ongoing: $0

Year 2 brings even more leverage because the original 24 podcasts still generate traffic while new episodes continue compounding results.

The Compounding Effect

This is what makes podcasts different from paid channels.

Month 1

• Record 2 podcasts
• Episodes go live
• 10,000 listeners reached
• 3 patient calls generated

Month 3

• 2 more podcasts recorded
• Previous episodes still driving traffic
• 4 active podcasts working simultaneously
• 8 patient calls generated

Month 6

• 6 total podcasts live
• All generating traffic together
• 18 patient calls monthly

Month 12

• 24 podcasts working for you
• Zero additional cost
• 34 patient calls monthly

The following year, those same 24 podcasts continue generating traffic while you add 24 more.

The Hidden Cost of Staying on Paid Ads

Let’s look at what Google Ads actually costs over 3 years.

Google Ads Costs

Year 1: $120,000
Year 2: $132,000
Year 3: $145,200

Total 3 Year Cost

$397,200

If you stop paying, all traffic disappears overnight.

Podcast Strategy Costs

Year 1: $8,497
Year 2: $8,497 optional expansion
Year 3: $8,497 optional expansion

Total 3 Year Cost

$25,491

If you stop, the 72 podcasts you recorded continue generating traffic.

Total Savings

$371,709 over 3 years.

“But I Don’t Have Time for Podcasts”

This is the most common objection we hear.

Google Ads Time Investment

• Weekly: 2 to 3 hours monitoring campaigns
• Monthly: 4 to 6 hours optimizing bids, testing creatives, and analyzing data
• Annual: 60 to 80 hours

Podcast Time Investment

• 30 minutes per interview
• 15 minutes prep time
• 6 podcasts quarterly = 4.5 hours total
• Annual: 18 hours

Podcasts require 75% less time than managing Google Ads.

We handle everything else:

• Research
• Pitching
• Booking
• Preparation
• Follow up

Which Podcasts Actually Convert?

This is the critical question.

Not all podcasts are equal.

We tracked 200+ healthcare providers across 500+ podcast placements.

High Converting Shows

• 5K to 15K listeners
• Niche specific audiences
• Local or regional focus
• Hosts ask about booking processes
• Show notes include your link

Average Result

15 to 25 patient inquiries per appearance.

Low Converting Shows

• 50K+ broad audiences
• General wellness topics
• National audiences
• No clear CTA

Average Result

2 to 4 inquiries per appearance.

The Difference

One high quality podcast can outperform six weak placements.

We only pitch shows with proven conversion history.

The Real ROI Calculation

Investment

$8,497
(Credancy Total Authority Package)

What You Get

• 6 to 8 podcast placements quarterly
• 24 to 32 annually
• 2 to 4 media features including USA Today, Business Insider, and Yahoo Finance
• AI search optimization for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI

Average Results Across 50+ Practices

Months 1 to 3

12 to 18 patient calls

Months 4 to 6

20 to 28 patient calls

Months 7 to 12

30 to 40 patient calls

Revenue Impact

Average patient lifetime value: $3,500
Average patients acquired Year 1: 240
Estimated revenue: $840,000

ROI

9,786% in Year 1.

Compare that to your Google Ads ROI.

How to Get Started

Option 1: DIY

• Research podcasts in your niche
• Pitch 50 to 100 shows
• Book 2 to 3 appearances
• Prepare for interviews
• Follow up for placements
• Repurpose content

Expected Investment

• 20 to 30 hours per podcast
• 2% to 5% booking rate
• 6 to 9 months before meaningful results

Option 2: Work With Us

• Book a 15 minute strategy call
• We show you podcasts that convert
• We handle pitching, booking, prep, and follow up
• You show up for the interviews
• We repurpose content and optimize for AI search

Expected Investment

• 30 minutes per podcast
• 85% to 90% booking rate
• First podcast within 30 days
• Results typically within 60 to 90 days

Book your strategy call:
https://calendly.com/credancy/15min

Common Questions

Do podcasts work in my specialty?

Yes. We’ve placed psychiatrists, dermatologists, chiropractors, financial advisors, attorneys, and B2B SaaS founders. Success comes from matching you with the right shows.

What if I’m not a good speaker?

You don’t need to be.

Podcast hosts guide the conversation naturally. You simply answer questions about your expertise. We also provide prep materials and interview questions beforehand.

How long before I see results?

The first podcast usually generates 2 to 4 inquiries within 30 days of going live.

By podcast 3 or 4, most clients see 12 to 18 monthly inquiries.

Can I replace Google Ads completely?

Many practices already have.

One provider reduced Google Ads spending from $12K monthly to $0 and replaced it with podcasts while getting better results.

What if a podcast doesn’t perform?

We only pitch shows with proven results.

If a placement underperforms, we pivot quickly and target better opportunities.

Our goal is results, not just appearances.

The Decision

You have two paths.

Path 1

Keep spending $5K to $15K monthly on Google Ads.

Watch costs rise every year.

Stop paying and leads disappear.

Path 2

Invest $8,497 once.

Get 24 to 32 podcast placements that continue generating leads for years.

Build authority that compounds over time.

Most practices choose Path 2 once they see the numbers.

Book a 15 Minute Breakdown Call

We’ll show you:

• Which podcasts convert in your specialty
• Expected timeline and results
• Exact ROI projections based on your patient value

No pressure. No hard sell. Just transparent numbers.

Book here:
https://calendly.com/credancy/15min

P.S.

One practice waited 6 months before starting.

Their exact words:

“We should’ve started immediately. We lost $60K in ad spend during that delay.”

Don’t make the same mistake.

About Credancy

Credancy is The Authority Agency.

We help healthcare providers, financial advisors, and professional service businesses replace expensive paid advertising with high ROI podcast placements, media features, and AI search optimization.

Most clients see 25% to 35% more inquiries within 90 days at a fraction of the cost of paid ads.