3 Things to Know Before Starting a Podcast in 2020.
Things to consider before getting behind the mic.
So you’re thinking about starting a podcast? You’ve got ideas and personality that you are ready to showcase to the world and a podcast is the perfect way to do that! However, like anything in life, it isn’t wise to jump into podcasting without doing a little bit of research ahead of time. Whether your podcast is just a hobby, or a professional endeavor, you want your podcast to have the best chance of being successful. All it’s going to take is a little bit of planning and hard-work, and before you know it you’ll be on track to having a loyal audience. Check out some of our tips below!
Find your Niche
One of the first things to consider when starting your podcast is what it is going to be about. Without a clear topic, it will be difficult to promote your show and find an audience to cater to. It is important to ask yourself “What is my expertise and what insight do I have to offer?”
You also want to make sure that niche is dynamic enough to span across multiple episodes. Begin with mapping out a couple topics for potential episodes that can be discussed for 30 minutes to an hour. Some topics may seem exciting at first, but you want to make sure that they have enough substance that your audience will find them enjoyable.
It is important to narrow down your niche instead of having a topic that is too broad. Creating a specific topic allows you to cater to a loyal audience. For example if a topic such as cooking/lifestyle might be too broad. However, podcasts about the pescatarian lifestyle would be more specific which make it easier to create episodes that are perfect for your ideal listener.
Pick Your Format and Hosting Style
There are many podcasting styles to choose from but it is important that you find a format and rhythm that suits your personality and your topics. Your format might be educational, storytelling, conversational, or interviews. You can host your podcast yourself, or you can have multiple hosts as well. Here are some of the most popular formats:
Podcasting with Multiple Host
Creating a podcast with multiple people or even a group of friends is a trend that is becoming very popular. What’s great about starting a podcast with friends is not only can you split the startup costs, but it can add a lot of variety to your show too. Here are some things to consider when if you are thinking about starting a show with multiple host:
Who will be listed as the show hosts?
Have a plan in place for how you will handle the finances. Include everything from how you will divide the costs to how you will split the profits. If your show starts making money, you’ll be glad you thought of this ahead of time.
Who will be in charge of what? One can edit and one can promote, for example. Think about all the tasks involved with producing a podcast, and agree on a plan for how you will divide the work.
Podcasting By Yourself
It is not a necessity to create a format that incorporates multiple hosts. You can create a successful podcast with just yourself behind the mic. However, this means the majority of the work will fall on your shoulders, so try to find a couple of people who can help you promote and edit your podcast if the workload becomes too much. This format is great for people who consider themselves great storytellers. It also is a great way for you to build a close relationship with your audience.
Incorporating Guest
If you are considering the interview-podcasting style, create a list of potential people who you are interested in having on your show. Make sure that your potential guests are knowledgeable about topics that fall within the niche of your podcast and start compiling their contact information. Do not be modest with your list either because you never know who will be willing to say yes to you! Great places to start looking for guests are other podcasts, blogs, Youtube, and HARO. Here are some other tips for interviewing guest:
If you’re completely new to the interviewing you may also want to practice with friends and family before interviewing a guest for your show.
Schedule interviews well before you plan to launch.
Record several interviews at a time so you’ll have plenty of content even if someone backs out or has to reschedule
Promote your Podcast
Once you have chosen a niche and a format it’s time to start thinking about how you will get your name out there and promote your podcast. A basic promotion strategy when you are first starting out is to release at least 3 episodes on launch day. If you don’t have a few episodes for new listeners to explore, there’s a good chance they won’t become invested and will probably forget about you.
Another way to get your podcast out there is by submitting them to podcast aggregators and directories. A podcast aggregator, called a podcaster, is an app that plays podcasts. The most well known podcasting is Apple Podcasts, the default podcast app that comes with iOS. But there are plenty more, including:
There are so many things that go into creating a podcast and it may seem to be a little overwhelming. However, by following some of our tips and implementing some planning you’ll be well on your road to success.