Podcasts have become hotter than ever, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to start your own podcast. Since many people prefer to listen to content rather than read it these days, podcast listeners have increased tremendously. Research has shown that the number of Americans who listen to podcasts has risen by more than 175% over the last five years, with around 117.8 million listening to at least one podcast every month.
Due to their growing popularity, many business owners are learning how to start a podcast to reach their growing audience, connect with people in their niche, and expand their business through content marketing. As of January 2020, there were over 1 million podcasts available on different platforms with over 30 million episodes. Many companies create podcasts as part of their content marketing strategy to promote their products and services.
However, some podcasts succeed more than others thanks to the quality of information they share. Listeners are always looking for an engaging and entertaining show that will make them want to come back. We understand that this might sound intimidating. However, if you’re armed with the right tools and information, it’s not difficult to establish yourself in the podcast world.
Before we dive into how to start a podcast, let us look at why you should consider starting one.
1) Increase your website traffic
The more attention your business gets, the more successful you will be in selling your goods and services. With podcasts, more consumers are made aware of a brand and what they are about. By establishing authority and familiarity through a podcast, you give consumers another way to connect with your website and other platforms. The return on investment (ROI) is focused on building an audience and creating lead generation through website traffic.
2) Repurpose your content
In today’s fast-paced and busy lifestyle, people seem to have less time to get things done. You can repurpose your existing content from an article or guest post by turning it into a podcast. This helps you to save time and reach an audience you might otherwise miss out on.
3) Podcast listeners are highly engaged
Studies have shown that more than 50% of podcast listeners take action from commercial messaging. This means that they will likely follow affiliate links, click on ads, or buy merch after listening to a podcast. Additionally, these listeners have more disposable income. This means that your company will likely get a better return on investment (ROI) if you host a quality podcast.
4) Build an extra marketing channel
With people spending more time online on various devices, podcasts are an excellent place to connect with existing and potential customers. After all, once you host a podcast and start getting listeners, your business will be listed on high-quality directories, apps, and other sites. Ultimately, these listings boost your online presence and make it easier for your target audience to find you through organic searches for topics related to your podcast.
5) Establish thought leadership
No matter how long or in-depth a podcast episode is, it’s a good place to share valuable information and establish a reputation as a trusted authority in your niche. With a podcast, you can cover a wide range of topics without losing your listener’s attention. By going into detail about a subject, you can position yourself as an authority figure in your industry.
6) Help remote workers stay connected
While businesses have been trying to promote culture and community around the office, remote workers do not have a chance to take part in water cooler conversations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees have had to work remotely to stay safe. Even as we’ve returned to business as usual, more people are working remotely than ever before. However, the last few years have shown how isolation can wreak havoc on people’s well-being. Anything that disrupts their usual social environment can lead to detachment, communication breakdowns, and even a massive loss of engagement and productivity. Podcasts are a great solution because they offer everyone from all over the world an avenue to stay connected wherever they are.
7) Promotes a culture
Company culture is now the life force of any business. Without a good company culture, consumers have no idea who the company is, what they stand for, and what they can expect. Your podcast could focus on talking about cool things you are working on, showcasing new clients, or establishing credibility. Regardless of the focus, podcasts are a great way to let people in on what you are up to behind the scenes as well as introduce people to the faces behind the brand. Either way, there is lots of potential to highlight your business activities through podcasts.
8) Build intimate relationships with customers
Every day, we are overwhelmed with information on the internet. Getting people’s attention these days is difficult, whether on a website, in an email, scorm, or a PDF. Podcasts are unique in that they can help you break through the noise and connect with your customers on a personal level. Listeners form bonds with podcasters and feel as if they are a part of the discourse. The more connected they are to your brand, the more likely they are to share your brand message. In other words, a podcast could turn your customers into valuable brand ambassadors.
9) Drive productivity in the workplace
Meetings and one-on-ones are enjoyable, but there are more effective ways to keep everyone informed. Whether it’s internal newsletters or office gossip, bite-sized information is the way to go. Internal short-form podcasts about what a company is up to can help keep everyone informed without wasting time.
Now that we have looked at why you should consider starting a podcast, let us talk about how to go about creating one:
Step #1: Choose a topic
You must choose a specialty for your podcast – make sure you hone in on a topic that gives listeners information that is in great demand. You must understand that listeners use podcasts for professional guidance. For this reason, you must be well-versed in your sector before choosing a topic. You must examine your passions and study your audience as well as the style of performance they would love. Consider these issues and develop a strategy to provide your company with a competitive advantage over other podcasters and help you grow your audience.
Once you have figured out the specific niche you want to talk about, you are one step closer to starting a successful podcast.
Step #2: Pick an attractive podcast title
The title of your podcast might help the listener to anticipate the substance and goal of the show. It is recommended that you give some thought to the title of your podcast. You can choose a title that best represents the needs of your target market.
When coming up with the correct title, here are a few things to think about. You should think of key phrases that are related to the title. This will increase the visibility of your podcast on search engines. The title should also be appropriate for your social media accounts and the podcast’s domain name so that your listeners can quickly locate you on the most popular podcast sites.
When it comes to choosing a podcast title, there are three main options to consider:
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The clever title
You should think of a good title for your show. The best titles are both catchy and easily understandable. Remember that listeners should be able to find your podcast when looking for information in your area of specialty. Additionally, you should also try to incorporate a description into the title.
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The descriptive title
The descriptive title is one that explains exactly what your podcast is about in plain language. For example, if it is about fitness, it could be called ‘The Fitness Podcast’; this title perfectly highlights the focus of the podcast. Remember to avoid long titles since you will most likely be saying the title pretty often during the episode. The last thing you want is a title that’ll turn into a tongue-twister or one that’ll make you run out of breath.
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Company title
The third option would be using your company’s name to connect the brand and its content. However, this only works if you already have a large audience that knows what your brand is about. For example, if a podcast is based on a specific topic and you use your company name instead, people will be confused and move past your podcast to listen to another one.
Step #3: Write a concise description
You should write a paragraph describing the contents of your podcast in a way that will entice listeners. A good description will help listeners decide whether they want to listen to the show. You have complete freedom to use target keywords and phrases that you know will attract your target audience.
The description needs to be appealing so that your audience feels compelled to listen to your podcast. You need to start with something that’s informative but also leaves your audience wanting more. Ideally, your description should leave potential listeners curious enough to listen to the whole podcast. You should also add credentials or any social proof that shows your authority on the topic.
Step #4: Create some artwork
A podcast will need artwork that reflects the main focus of the podcast and the niche to which it belongs. Although the majority of podcasts are audio-only, using a visual medium is equally essential.
Your artwork will most likely be the first thing an audience sees in the podcasting directory. The artwork or logo you design will represent your podcast. Make sure you create designs that attract the audience’s attention and set you apart from the competition. A logo should be a minimum of 1400 x 1400 pixels and a maximum of 3000 x 3000 in JPEG or PNG format. You should also optimize your images for mobile devices by compressing your image files.
Step #5: Pre-plan episodes
Pre-planning is an integral part of podcasting since creating episodes can be a stressful process. Every podcast needs to be pre-planned with tailored approaches to ensure that the quality remains consistent throughout the entire show.
When planning a podcast episode, some things that need to be kept in mind include picking a topic, choosing a podcast format, determining the podcast length, and podcast schedule.
Picking a topic
As mentioned previously, you need to be passionate about the subject you choose if you really want to provide value to your audience. To select the topic you want to talk about, you need to have a general idea of what you want to discuss. The more you know about an issue, the higher the chances are that you will create a quality podcast.
Choosing your podcast format
You also need to choose your podcast format. There are four main types of podcast structures: interview style, news and current events show, multi-host show, and solo show. The interview style is the most popular format in podcasts because each episode introduces inspirational people and thought leaders in a specific niche. Generally, the format is unscripted, free-flowing, and requires minimal editing.
The news and current events show model mainly focuses on sports, politics, technology, and other burning topics that let you provide non-stop information to your listeners. Multi-host shows have more than two people creating intriguing and highly entertaining content in a conversational tone. Lastly, solo-style podcasts focus on telling a story in every episode that is relevant to your area of specialization. It could be done in any tone as long as its content is educational or motivational.
Determining the optimal length
After choosing the podcast format, it is also essential to determine the length of your episodes. You need to respect your audience’s time and set a reasonable and consistent time frame for each new episode throughout the entire series. Ideally, twenty minutes is the perfect amount of time for a podcast episode. However, it is also possible to assess stats and tweak the length after you’ve released the first few episodes.
Drawing up a schedule
Last but not least, the podcast schedule needs to be determined. The schedule determines how frequently you’ll release a new episode. This is essential for the success of a podcast because it allows audiences to remain connected and keeps them in anticipation of the new episode.
Conclusion:
It may seem challenging to compile all the information and create a successful podcast. However, with all the knowledge and tips listed above, you can host a quality podcast and use it as part of your marketing strategy.
Once you’ve launched your podcast, you’ll want to tell your target audience about it. Armed with PR specialists, expert writers, and certified designers, Pressfarm can help you generate publicity for your podcast. With a professional press release, some engaging guest posts, and an eye-catching media kit, Pressfarm can help you capture media attention with the news about your podcast. This content is also designed to excite your target audience and drive them to your podcast.
By distributing your content to the right media outlets and startup directories, Pressfarm can boost your online visibility. Once the Pressfarm team has helped you to rank in relevant search results across search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing!, it’ll be easier for your target audience to find your podcast through organic searches for topics that you cover.
Finally, with a custom media list built specifically for your niche, Pressfarm can help you to keep doing media outreach for your podcast long after your PR campaign is over. With an affordable PR package, you can put your podcast in front of the right audiences.