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.