19 Finest Podcast Suggestions for Launching and Rising Your Present

(This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my full disclosure.)

This recognition and relative low barrier of entry has fostered a brand new technology of podcasters through the years, and even companies wish to podcast as a part of their branded content material technique. I’ve additionally been podcasting since 2013, and 10 years in have began to livestream all of my podcast recordings, each solo and interview. You’ll need to learn to the underside of this publish to seek out out my recommendation on this space.

Nevertheless, like another type of media or content material advertising and marketing initiative, you have to first construct a program and produce every episode earlier than you launch it. Moreover, it’s laborious work to make sure that the listener rely will increase with every episode, and that folks stay inquisitive about your podcast. In any other case, there isn’t a lot level in doing the laborious work crucial to provide and promote an episode. That is why so many individuals give up podcasting, with the favored saying within the podcasting world being that 80% of podcasts don’t publish greater than ten episodes earlier than quitting!

That’s why I’m hoping that these podcast suggestions, culled from my very own decade of podcasting, will allow you to maximize the success of your individual present and hopefully hold you invested in podcasting longer.

Rising recognition and attain of podcasts

Earlier than we get began with my checklist of podcast suggestions, let’s take into account why you may wish to produce one. Maybe the largest purpose is that podcasts are extremely in style. Actually, 79% of Individuals are acquainted with podcasting, and 82 million have listened in 2022. To place this in context, 82 million individuals is round 20% of our inhabitants, together with kids.

Podcasts are rising in recognition globally as properly. In 2021, there have been over 2 million energetic podcasts and over 48 million podcast episodes out there. Maybe that is unsurprising when you think about that the tools required for listening is comparatively easy and cheap.

In the end, podcasts are a extremely accessible medium that may be consumed on the go or at dwelling. Whereas Individuals don’t commute as a lot as they did pre-COVID, staff are slowly returning to the workplace. This could assist with podcast recognition much more as a result of these episodes are a good way to cross the time.

Additionally, take into account that podcasts will be simply shared and found by social media and different on-line platforms. Folks like to share their experiences and nice finds on social media. Plus, in the event that they know anyone with comparable pursuits, it’s fairly straightforward for them to cross on fascinating info. Within the course of, podcast episodes may help you attain new audiences and construct a loyal following. In fact, to raise your success, you must observe some or all the podcast suggestions on this article.

Advantages of utilizing podcasts for content material creation and advertising and marketing

In fact, there are lots of advantages to creating podcasts that transcend sharing concepts. Whereas concepts had been initially the first impetus for podcast creation, they’ve turn out to be an extremely invaluable advertising and marketing software. Let’s take a look at a few of the the explanation why that is true.

Elevated engagement

Podcasts are a extremely partaking medium that may allow you to join along with your viewers on a deeper degree. Particularly, podcasts with well-written scripts can simply seize and retain individuals’s consideration. Furthermore, individuals like to work together with compelling concepts and high quality content material. Ultimately, that is they’ll begin sharing your content material with their mates or household. Generally they’ll even cross extra skilled content material round to their colleagues. Both method, your organization wins.

Value-effective

Podcasting is a comparatively low-cost strategy to create content material and attain new audiences. That is very true when you think about {that a} comparatively primary microphone and free or low cost audio modifying software program may help you shortly get your ideas out to most people. In different phrases, in contrast to video, you don’t have very many shifting components for a podcast, nor do it’s important to purchase costly and fancy tools. By following my podcast suggestions, you will get a good higher bang in your buck.

Elevated model consciousness

Podcasts may help you construct model consciousness and set up your self as an authority in your business. On this sense, they’re much like weblog posts. One purpose why podcasts work so properly is that long-form content material offers you time to elucidate a subject totally. You too can set up your experience by interviewing different individuals or utilizing any of a number of different podcast suggestions on this article.

Elevated visitors

Podcasts can drive visitors to your web site or different on-line platforms. Particularly, once you speak about your organization or your concepts on a Podcasting platform, individuals often get curious. That curiosity often results in web site visits and, in lots of circumstances, new gross sales leads. Nevertheless, to do that efficiently, you’ll want well-done podcast episodes.

Elevated income

In addition to producing leads, podcasts will be monetized by sponsorships, promoting, or different means. Sponsorships and different influencer advertising and marketing strategies are very talked-about on podcasts, largely due to podcasters skill to elucidate and focus on varied subjects. Monetization alternatives are particularly important once you focus on subjects that are of curiosity to sure industries. Alternately, you’ll be able to revenue if sure services or products will be useful to your podcast viewers.

Additional Studying: The High 25 Podcast Statistics You Have to Know in 2023

19 Finest Podcast Suggestions for Launching and Rising Your Present

Now that you simply perceive why podcasts are such a robust software, let’s take a look at completely different podcast suggestions that may allow you to take advantage of out of your present. The following tips will be related whether or not you’re beginning a branded podcast, sharing skilled experience, or simply having enjoyable.

I’ll do my greatest to checklist these so as from launching to rising.

1. Conduct market analysis to know your target market’s wants and preferences

That is the golden rule of promoting: Perceive your viewers.

Earlier than you even begin planning your podcast episodes, one of the crucial necessary podcast suggestions is to know your viewers. To do that, you have to first determine your target market. For a enterprise, that is sometimes some variation of your purchaser persona. For a non-branded podcast, it’s extra a query of who could be inquisitive about your chosen matter.

When you’ve chosen your target market, analysis their pursuits and preferences. That is comparatively straightforward for area of interest subjects and B2B manufacturers. Nevertheless, it’s a lot more durable should you’re making a extra generalized podcast. Starting by doing a search in your favourite podcast to seek out out what exhibits your goal is likely to be listening to is an effective begin.

Lastly, use social media and on-line communities to assemble insights and suggestions from potential listeners. This may assist affirm or fine-tune your understanding of what’s going to seize your viewers’s consideration.

If you happen to’ve been podcasting for awhile, look deep into your analytics and see if yow will discover developments in obtain numbers based mostly on completely different subjects or interview friends.

2. Use brainstorming strategies equivalent to thoughts mapping or phrase affiliation to generate identify concepts in your podcast and episodes

One of many greatest podcast suggestions out there’s that you really want a catchy or intriguing title for not simply your title however for each episode that also consists of your goal key phrases, and arising with one usually includes brainstorming. Begin with a broad checklist of phrases associated to your podcast and its subjects or themes. Normally, you’ll wish to develop a big checklist of key phrases.

One other tip is to make use of mind-mapping software program to prepare your concepts. This robotically cuts by the noise and distills your smaller concepts or associated themes into greater ones. By consolidating concepts, you may make it a lot simpler to choose the fitting one.

That is additionally the place AI instruments equivalent to Jasper can come in useful.

When you’ve run out of subjects, use phrase affiliation strategies to generate new concepts. By figuring out new concepts, you will get forward of your competitors extra simply. That’s as a result of the newer concepts are much less prone to have been taken by different content material creators or at the least have much less competitors than the commonest themes.

Lastly, slender down your checklist by contemplating your target market. Your present’s identify ought to attraction to your target market to the best extent potential. That is true even contemplating the necessity to have the present match your character and branding issues.

3. Use design instruments or templates to create eye-catching cowl artwork that displays your model identification

Subsequent on my checklist of podcast suggestions is making your present distinctive. Top-of-the-line methods to do that is with high-quality cowl artwork and graphics that replicate your model. Most significantly, select a colour scheme that displays your model identification. If you happen to’re beginning the podcast to share your private experience, then decide a colour scheme that fits you in your theme. For a branded podcast, you’ll sometimes use firm colours.

With the colours in thoughts, use high-quality photographs and graphics. Branded podcasts ought to all the time have firm or model logos. And for particular person podcasts, as soon as once more, decide one thing that’s constant along with your theme and character.

If it’s essential to make graphics from scratch or tweak model belongings, use design templates in in style graphics apps equivalent to Adobe Specific (proven within the video above) or Canva for inspiration. These templates had been designed to assist individuals make nice graphics, often with minimal effort. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter what you select, hold it easy and straightforward to learn. In any other case, chances are you’ll make individuals go elsewhere earlier than you’ve even began.

Lastly, examine your cowl artwork to the podcasts in your area of interest. Does it stand out? Is it interesting? Relative? If you happen to’re feeling good about your work to date, you’ll be able to transfer on to the following stage:

4. Select a dependable internet hosting platform

Even podcasts want a internet hosting platform, and considered one of my greatest suggestions right here is to choose one thing that works properly for you and your viewers. To make that call, first, take into account the price and options of various internet hosting platforms. The worst factor you are able to do is pay an excessive amount of for too few options. Likewise, you don’t wish to break the financial institution on stuff you don’t want.

Particularly once you’re beginning out, search for a platform that provides dependable uptime and quick load instances. In any other case, you threat having individuals hand over on that all-important obtain or streaming session. There are few issues that restrict your alternatives as a lot as a poor person expertise. To that finish, you must also make it possible for the platform is straightforward to make use of, each for you/your workers, and your finish customers.

Lastly, test if the platform provides analytics and monitoring instruments. These features allow you to observe your viewers and enhance the present to maximise efficiency. And if you’re creating this for a corporation, there’s an opportunity that the platform’s analytics will be built-in into different advertising and marketing instruments. Relying in your setup, that could possibly be a significant bonus.

I take advantage of and love Buzzsprout myself and would extremely advocate them.

5. Get the fitting tools

No checklist of podcast suggestions could be full with out speaking about tools. Though you don’t need to spend some huge cash to get good high quality gear, you don’t wish to produce a podcast with insufficient tools.

These are my suggestions for fulfillment:

• Spend money on a good-quality microphone. Search for one thing that’s designed for recording sound. If you happen to want concepts, try the quite a few tools evaluation web sites or ask for suggestions. Don’t over-invest right here: As a newbie you shouldn’t be paying greater than $100 for a microphone, and as your present grows be at liberty to splurge! After 10 years I’m lastly upgrading to the $250+ Shure MV7 pictured above.
• Think about using a pop filter to scale back background noise. Folks love clear audio for his or her podcasts. Plus, many individuals hearken to podcasts in noisy environments, so that you don’t wish to add much more noise.
• Use headphones to observe your audio. Whereas this step could seem pointless, it’s one of many few methods you’ll be able to keep away from speaking to a brick wall in case your mic or pc quits recording. It additionally makes you give attention to how your audio sounds so that you simply guarantee you’re the correct distance from the microphone whilst you discuss. I personally skip this step after a few years of podcasting, however if you’re new or haven’t executed it just lately, it’s an important thought that may allow you to probably enhance your audio high quality.
• Use a increase arm in order that your microphone will be flexibly positioned in any location close to your mouth. Plus the increase arm will assist assist enhance audio high quality by minimizing shock noise in addition to clear up extra space in your desk.

Additional Studying: The 27 Main Podcasting Instruments to Assist You Launch or Develop Your Podcast

6. Develop a constant episode format that features segments equivalent to an intro, most important content material, and outro

Consistency is necessary, because it’s a part of your present’s branding. To do that, begin with an attention-grabbing intro. Folks will know from the intro that they’re listening to your podcast and never another person’s should you do one thing distinctive.

Subsequent, use a constant format for every episode. Listeners wish to know what they’ll anticipate from episodes, and as you ship, they’ll hold coming. As a part of your format, embrace segments equivalent to interviews, information updates, or listener suggestions. This provides your viewers some selection whereas remaining constant.

Lastly, finish with a transparent name to motion. This may be one thing easy, like “see you subsequent week,” or a extra demanding CTA, like “try my web site.” For this one, you’ll be able to all the time make it completely different when the scenario warrants.

7. Use an editorial calendar or content material planning software to map out your episode subjects and launch schedule

One of the necessary podcast suggestions is to plan your episodes prematurely. This lets you do your analysis, write your script, and invite any friends. It is best to by no means be in a scenario the place it’s essential to press the file button however you don’t know what to speak about or who to interview.

To make this simpler, use an editorial calendar to prepare your subjects and friends. For industrial podcasts, take into account including the podcast schedule to your total advertising and marketing calendar so that everybody’s on the identical web page.

Matter-wise, take into account seasonal or vacation themes in your episodes. Folks like to really feel that they’re celebrating holidays with you. The suitable holidays might fluctuate based mostly in your target market, so watch the analytics for these episodes fastidiously. Lastly, launch new episodes on a constant schedule. While you do that, individuals will sit up for the following episode and pay attention extra usually.

8. Spend money on making a podcast web site

The following level goes to speak about submitting your podcast to podcast directories, however earlier than doing that, you’ll wish to ensure you have an internet site to level your listeners to. Higher not, as an alternative of making an attempt to create a podcast web site by yourself, why don’t you simply use an easy-to-use resolution such because the one I take advantage of pictured above – my suggestion is to make use of PodcastPage like I do. That web site was setup in lower than an hour with no net coding required! You need to use your podcast web site as your most important web site or to create a subdomain like I’ve in https://podcast.nealschaffer.com.

Additional Studying: A Full Information to Making a Nice Podcast Web site

9. Analysis in style podcast directories in your area of interest or goal market and submit your podcast for inclusion

Irrespective of your area of interest, a good way to get extra podcast suggestions is by wanting on the competitors. It could possibly be that you’ve a number of that you simply’re following already or that you simply hearken to. However on the identical time, you must search for different concepts. A simple method to do that is determine and use in style podcast directories equivalent to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Key phrases ought to return a number of podcasts in your area of interest, or that attraction to the identical individuals.

When you’ve labored by the mainstream boards, analysis area of interest directories associated to your matter or business and see what they’ve. This could allow you to determine extra alternatives for development. It may additionally allow you to finalize your present identify, equivalent to if the one you picked initially is simply too shut to a different one.

After you’ve checked out your choices, submit your podcast to directories for inclusion. I can’t fairly say the extra locations, the higher since you need the alternatives to make sense. Nevertheless, selecting multiple will considerably improve your alternatives for viewers development. Lastly, monitor your listing listings for critiques and suggestions. With that info, you’ll be able to enhance your present.

The picture above is from Buzzsprout, which makes it straightforward so that you can submit your podcast to varied directories inside its app.

10. Optimize the descriptions for every of your episodes by together with detailed present notes, key phrases, tags, and different related info

It is best to all the time embrace detailed present notes with every episode. These notes assist individuals resolve in the event that they wish to hearken to your episode, and you’ll exhibit the present’s value their invaluable time. To assist your exhibits get found, use related key phrases and tags in your present notes and episode titles.

Additionally, embrace hyperlinks to assets talked about in every episode. Not solely is that this a listener comfort, but it surely additionally helps construct your credibility as an SME. Lastly, encourage listeners to depart critiques and rankings on listing listings. Not solely do critiques allow you to enhance your present, however in addition they assist appeal to listeners.

I discussed the usage of AI earlier than, however one AI software particularly for podcasting that I’ve fallen in love with and pictured above is Podsqueeze, which could be a critical time-saver and allow you to craft higher present notes.

11. Promote your podcast on social media

Even the most effective podcasts want promotion to develop. These podcast suggestions will allow you to accomplish that process effectively.

Many creators overlook one of the crucial necessary podcast suggestions for viewers growth: social media is king. If you happen to wouldn’t overlook to market what you are promoting on social media, you shouldn’t overlook along with your podcast, both.

To get began, select social media platforms that align along with your target market. For instance, you probably have a really younger viewers, then TikTok and Snapchat are good concepts. Enterprise-related podcasts belong on LinkedIn and possibly different boards. Choose the platforms the place your target market hangs out.

Subsequent, share new episodes in your social media channels. Doing this lets individuals affiliate you along with your content material. Moreover, it makes sharing your content material a lot simpler, each on social media and different strategies. Keep in mind to encourage listeners to share your podcast on social media, whether or not utilizing your promotional posts or their very own.

Subsequent, it’s essential to make your podcast extra seen. A method is to make use of hashtags associated to your matter or business. If you happen to don’t have a very good hashtag assortment (and even should you do), key phrase analysis will be very helpful. Additionally, analytics will allow you to discover key phrase alternatives when used correctly.

Engagement is a two-way avenue, so don’t overlook to interact along with your viewers. It is best to reply to feedback and messages and work together with critiques as applicable. As your podcast grows, you may also wish to arrange a Fb Group for the present.

Lastly you’ll want to use a mixture of content material sorts, equivalent to photographs, movies, and textual content posts. You possibly can additionally attempt to use audio sound bites, like those that Buzzsprout makes it tremendous straightforward to create as within the image above, to advertise your podcast on social media.

Additional Studying: 9 Steps to Construct an Efficient Social Media Technique for 2023

12. Use podcast promoting to succeed in new audiences and drive visitors to your podcast

In addition to your natural efforts, think about using paid promoting to succeed in new audiences. A few of the lesser identified podcasting apps equivalent to Overcast (pictured above) supply a strategy to promote that’s higher than social media advertisements as a result of individuals can immediately subscribe to your podcast from the advert. The opposite podcasting app which provides advertisements that you must strive is Podcast Addict.

13. Collaborate with different podcasters to cross-promote and develop your viewers

Lastly, collaborate with different creators in your area of interest. Not solely can this be lots of enjoyable, but it surely lets each of you share concepts with one another’s audiences. For example, in advertising and marketing, you may need somebody within the influencer advertising and marketing area collaborate with a Fb advertisements specialist. A visitor look on every podcast lets individuals see what each of it’s important to supply. That is generally referred to as a podcast swap.

As you collaborate, cross-promote one another’s podcasts on social media. You are able to do this in a number of methods, equivalent to by posting hyperlinks and bulletins to that episode or by speaking concerning the collaboration. Both method, this method is amongst my prime podcast suggestions because it helps each exhibits develop.

Additional Studying: The 11 Finest Digital and Social Media Advertising and marketing Podcasts to Hearken to in 2023

14. Monitor your analytics

Use analytics instruments equivalent to Google Analytics (now referred to as Google Advertising and marketing Platform) or Chartable to trace downloads and engagement. These numbers allow you to see how properly your present is performing total, so you’ll be able to shift methods and enhance obtain numbers. You can also make adjustments to your subjects, social media content material, and advert methods. Analytics info is invaluable to not solely enhance the present but in addition alter your promotional methods.

Additionally, monitor critiques and rankings on podcast directories. This cannot solely present you when one thing you probably did on the present was in style but in addition means that you can put out fires earlier than they destroy your listener numbers. Additionally, you by no means know when wanting by critiques provides you with concepts (or determine what your viewers needs).

15. Leverage e mail advertising and marketing

Most individuals consider e mail advertising and marketing because the area of e-commerce manufacturers and different conventional companies. Nevertheless, that is considered one of my well-kept podcast suggestions. E-mail advertising and marketing retains you and your podcast top-of-mind in your loyal listeners and encourages them to share it with others.

Right here’s methods to do it.

First, use e mail advertising and marketing instruments just like the one I take advantage of, ConvertKit, to construct an e mail checklist of subscribers. You may collect these emails by opt-in kinds in your web site or by utilizing different instruments, like perks for signing up, that allow individuals add their emails independently.

Subsequent, ship common newsletters with updates about new episodes or particular promotions. This fashion, you’ll present worth to your e mail subscribers. Ideally, these newsletters must be frequent sufficient to get observed however not be despatched so usually that you simply’ll annoy your readers.

As a part of your publication, embrace hyperlinks to assets talked about in every episode. If you happen to don’t point out assets, then give you one thing else, like a hyperlink to your web site.

16. Provide unique content material

If you wish to monetize your present (and you must, if it isn’t a advertising and marketing software), then listed below are some podcast suggestions to assist.

In addition to sponsorships, the most effective methods to earn a living is thru subscriptions. To make this worthwhile, you must create bonus episodes or content material for subscribers. You are able to do this in any of a number of methods, equivalent to going extra in-depth right into a theme mentioned in an open episode or protecting one thing completely different. A method to decide on a subject is to ask individuals on social media what they wish to find out about.

Equally, you’ll be able to supply early entry to new episodes or behind-the-scenes content material. This is likely to be much less work than devoted present episodes, which is very helpful to start with. Lastly, use a membership platform equivalent to Patreon to supply unique content material. Platforms are helpful as a result of they deal with the billing for you, so you’ll be able to spend time creating.

17. Collaborate with listeners

One factor that folks love, each in podcasts and different media, is collaborations. On this case, they love working with their favourite creators. Not solely does this assist share concepts inside the neighborhood, but it surely additionally helps individuals see you as a content material creator who cares about their opinions.

There are a number of methods you’ll be able to strive listener collaboration:

• Encourage listeners to submit questions or subjects for dialogue. They need to do that by your web site or an e mail handle that’s devoted to the present.
• Use listener suggestions to form future episodes. You may get suggestions by watching your podcast critiques and different public boards. Or, you’ll be able to ask individuals what they assume.
• Provide listener shoutouts or different rewards for engagement. Folks love shoutouts, and rewards will be fairly enjoyable. This has the twin objective of rewarding your energetic listeners and rising your engagement price.

Take into account that there are lots of methods to collaborate with listeners. Social media is among the Most worthy locations to seek out and solicit suggestions, so don’t be afraid to ask questions of your neighborhood. Doing this will even offer you extra engagement on social media, which is nice for his or her algorithms.

18. Leverage Video

If you happen to’ve learn till now, I’m assuming that you’re properly into your podcasting journey identical to me and have tried all the pieces that I’ve talked about till mine.

What extra are you able to do, you might be asking your self.

I used to be identical to you. Till sooner or later I made a decision to file a video of myself recording a podcast episode, which I assumed I may repurpose at a later date.

As I used to be getting ready for the recording on Zoom, I noticed that I may simply livestream the episode on YouTube.

The remaining is historical past.

If the entire intent of your podcasting is to share info, why are you limiting your info to those that hearken to your podcast?

If you happen to solely get 50 downloads an episode however can get 50 extra views in your podcast content material, haven’t your doubled your complete viewers?

That was my epiphany second that i clarify within the Livestreaming Adjustments Every little thing episode above.

For extra recommendations on how podcasters can higher leverage YouTube, try my interview with Vyyyper from VidIQ:

19. Host dwell occasions

The final of my podcast suggestions is to carry dwell occasions. Admittedly, that is harder to do than a lot of my different ideas. Nevertheless, for the fitting podcaster (or a artistic one), dwell occasions are an important alternative.

One strategy to have a dwell occasion is to carry a Q&A session with listeners. In a digital world, you might have individuals name in as they do on the radio. You too can use Zoom or one other video-compatible platform to make a video format that’s additionally performed on Fb Stay or the same platform.

Another choice is to leverage conferences or occasions. For example, you’ll be able to host a dwell recording of the podcast. This provides listeners a chance to look behind the scenes of their favourite present. Equally, a meet-and-greet allows you to make nice movies and meet your listeners. Particularly in case your podcast is closely tied to your character, this selection will be pure gold.

Better of all, when individuals meet you personally, it will possibly enhance their loyalty or familiarity along with your model.

Conclusion

Recording and distributing a podcast whereas persevering with to develop your present and attain extra individuals is lots of work, to not point out that there’s lots of competitors in most niches. Fortunately, there are many choices to extend your probabilities of success. By following these podcast suggestions, you’ll be able to benefit from your efforts. And, belief me, deal with podcasting like another advertising and marketing effort: It’s a marathon, and never a dash, however the individuals you meet alongside the way in which and experiences you might have might be rewarding sufficient to maintain you or what you are promoting in lots of unintended methods!

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