Photo: Alex vom Felsen (Shutterstock)
It’s easy to start your own podcast. They are as ubiquitous today as personal blogs were in the early 2000s. But they present their hosts with the same problem that bloggers had back then: they can (as you think) deliver or create brilliant content – but is anyone listening?
There are ways to make your podcast stand out from the sea of audio offerings. There are ways to get people to listen.
Make sure your podcast has high quality content
That seems obvious, but it’s true: you need to present content that people care about, no matter what your focus is.
“Listeners want value,” said Rob Goodman, executive producer at Wix’s.What now?“Podcast on” how technology changes everything “. “This value can come in many forms – from laughter, entertainment, information, or just a really gripping story.”
B. Mosiah Fulton, who behind the scenes with the “What did you think?“Agreed to the podcast:” People want to laugh, and all good jokes are truthful. “
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Goodman, who also wrote the Webby nominee “Design better“Podcast from InVision and produces and hosts his own show called”Go ways“Added:” Listeners also want access – access to people or insights that they do not encounter in their daily life. That’s the superpower that podcasts can unleash for listeners, and it’s a benefit for brands that can establish themselves as sources for this type of content as they build strong long-term relationships with audiences. “
How to perfect your podcasting voice
You don’t have to change your voice like a 1950s television station or talk about topics you don’t understand to get an audience. What you really need to do is talk about things that you know and that interest you. Someone else out there is taking care of the same things too.
“Be true to yourself and your audience will grow as you grow,” said Fulton, who watched “What You Thought?” exceed 500,000 views in just over half a year. “People don’t want to hear anything fake, so authenticity is key to reaching and captivating your audience.”
Still, Fulton believes it is “an unwise decision” to measure the success of your Pod by views and plays.
“How many of these views do you apply to real fans?” He asked. “It’s important to build a core fan base. This is where many aspiring podcasts fail. Get to know your core target group. Do not address a specific audience, but find out who you are really doing the show for. “
Goodman also cautioned against Schilling, recommending being sincere: “What listeners don’t want is a 30-minute commercial disguised as content for your podcast or service. You definitely don’t want aimless conversations just to keep the podcast feed going. Your podcast ends up on the unsubscribe heap without intent or value. “
Publish episodes on a consistent schedule
With all the tools you need to record and upload an episode in your own home, you might think that you are going to be producing shows all the time. But think about your other chores at home. Did you vow to put away the basket with the folded clothes? Has it landed on the “laundry chair” in your room? Once again?
Just because you have access to all of the right resources doesn’t mean you will actually be using them, especially now that so much of our work and play has been relocated to our home. It’s easy to postpone things you need to do, from changing a lightbulb to recording your podcast.
Don’t put it off. Take this seriously. When you have listeners – and you want listeners – you need to consistently deliver content to them.
“The cast and crew shoot weekly,” said Fulton. “That is extremely important! Stay consistent, create a shooting schedule and stick to it. Get your crew together – or, if you’re a one-man production, get your equipment in order – and shoot! “
Promote your podcast across platforms
“What did you think?” is not only available on platforms like Spotify and Soundcloud; it also has a video and social media component. In addition to audio distribution in mind, episodes are recorded with an added video element to appeal to an audience that YouTube prefers to Apple podcasts.
Not everyone loves listening to audio. For example, this writer hates it but will happily consume podcast episodes on YouTube. Consider cross-platform advertising to get the greatest number of fans possible. Goodman recommends “having a unified voice and brand that extends beyond the audio waves into the copy, visual identity, and social media assets that reach listeners in the communities they occupy online”.
Don’t just advertise on your own social networks. Network! Find other people who are producing similar shows and ask them to contribute.
“One of the best ways people can learn about new podcasts is through the podcasts they already hear, know and love,” said Goodman. “For podcasters, whether it’s swapping interviews across shows, swapping ad placements, or writing in-kind in an episode introduction or blog post, this goes a long way in helping you connect organically and authentically with prospective listeners.”
He added, “No podcast is an island.” You need fans, supporters and staff for this to work – but when you have them all together, the audience will come.
