These days, 64% of the U.S. population is familiar with the term “podcasting” with 17% of Americans listening to podcasts weekly. Seventeen percent of the U.S. population equates to roughly 48 million people! According to Apple, they host over 525,000 active shows, with over 18.5 million episodes total, including content in over 100 languages. Given these impressive statistics, you may be wondering: ‘How can I manage a successful podcast?’
Keeping these five tips in mind, you’ll be on your way in no time. To lead with a bonus tip, keep it simple!
- Establish your WHO
Who is your audience? Determining the who is the first step in creating a solid foundation for a successful podcast, as it will help you to successfully target and market your content appropriately. Naturally, you want to ensure the type of material presented and the tone is in line with those most likely to resonate with the content.
- Know WHAT you are talking about
What will your podcast be about? What is your overall message? What does your audience want to hear? If you do have a guest, make sure to do your research! Who are they? What’s their backstory? What do they do? What are their interests? Knowing this information prior to the interview will help build natural dialogue instead of a systematic series of questions.
- Find a quiet space WHERE you won’t be disturbed
Having a comfortable area where you can record with no sound interruption is critical. Because podcasts are only audio, background noise can be easier to detect as there are no visual distractions. There is nothing worse than a difficult-to-hear podcast due to poor audio quality! Even if your content is great, noise distraction may deter people from listening in again, or from subscribing.
- Determine WHEN to post
Set up a schedule and stick to it! Listeners will be more inclined to listen if they know when a new episode is posted. Imagine trying to keep up with your favorite TV show and never knowing when it’s going to air, or when to tune-in. Consistency is key here, and a great way to ensure your guests will continue showing up week after week, and hopefully subscribe for the long-run.
- Don’t lose sight of WHY you started
Many times, we lose sight of purpose when we’ve done something for a long period of time. Stay true to yourself throughout the longevity of your show. Before each podcast, take a few minutes to reflect on what you’re doing and why. Is it to educate, entertain, motivate, or a combination of the three? Your why will be the backbone of your entire podcast, and critical to maintain as your show goes on.
So, whether you’re contemplating starting your own podcast or are looking for different ideas on how to improve your existing podcast, these tips and tricks are a great place to start. For more information and ideas, check us out on Max’s Unconventional Genius Podcast or contact us today!
