Are you wanting to start a successful podcast? Do you love the idea of speaking into a mic, talking about the things that matter to you and then publishing your audio file for the world to hear?

Sounds pretty simple, no? It goes without saying, there are few digital marketing platforms that allow you to build such strong and emotional connections with a target audience than a podcast does, but there’s much more to it than speaking for 30 minutes about something you care about and calling it a day.

To produce a successful podcast you need to master great podcast production. 

What type of podcast do you want to produce? 

There are various formats to choose from, but making sure you pick the right one to suit you and your audience is essential. Let’s take a look at a few of the options. 

Co-host

Co-hosting is a great way to create conversational and social content. Co-host podcasts can be with two or more people and the naturalism that comes with individuals talking helps the podcast episode to flow, be dynamic, energetic and draw the listener in. 

Solo-host

Solo host podcasts are the most challenging for many. From coming up with the ideas to creating the content – everything is down to you. Usually, in these types of podcasts, it will always be only you – no interviews, no co-host, just you. Although speaking alone and having to keep the target audience engaged can seem daunting; if you are capable they are a great way to build a great connection with your listener and make them feel as if you are on a one-on-one. However, of course, co-host or interview podcasts allow you to have a dynamic and energy to bounce back and forth. That being said, there is one key benefit to a solo show, your podcast recording can be done when ever and you can record for as much and as little as you want.

Interview

Interview podcasts mean you can have something new and interesting to talk about in each podcast due to having different guests each time. For this reason, it means you don’t have the same pressure to come up with different topics each time and similar to co-host podcasts, they are conversational and hold the same type of energy. 

Now you’ve chosen your format it’s time to start prepping! 

Although most people think that being a podcaster is sitting down, having a chat and then putting it out into the world, this, unfortunately, is not the case. Before getting to that stage you have to prepare. Thinking about the various topics you will cover in different episodes and how long will the podcasts be? 

Podcast Topic

When deciding on a podcast topic you have to understand what it is your audience want. Research them, and identify their interests, their likes, dislikes, and their problems. Once you have collected this information, coming up with topics should seem a little easier. 

Research other podcasts

Google podcasts to have a look at another successful podcast that is in your niche and see what topics they cover is another great way to get inspired and have a better understanding of what your target audience wants.

Social media 

If you already have an existing audience on a social media page you’re in a fortunate position and you can pretty much just ask them what they’d like to listen to. With platforms such as Instagram allowing you to do polls and questionnaires, this will massively help you figure out your topics.

The ideal length

First of all, there is no perfect podcast length. While short podcasts can be great to keep them sweet, snappy and grab your audience’s attention, it really depends on what your podcast is about. As long as your podcast is interesting and provides value to the listener, long podcasts can be great and create even stronger emotional connections with the audience.

To decide what is the perfect length for your podcast – think about a few of these questions:

When does your audience listen?

If your podcast is aimed more at individuals listening in on their morning commute, then keeping the podcast episode short and snappy can be beneficial, between 25 – 30 minutes is great for these types of shows. 

What topics are you talking about? 

If your topics are complex and require in-depth conversation to truly give value to each one, then longer podcasts are much more suitable, the last thing you want is to be discussing a powerful topic that has the potential to help people and you end up rushing or not covering enough due to not having the right amount of time. A good podcast producer will be responsive to the trending topics and themes in their niche.

How often will you be publishing? 

If your aim is to publish a podcast daily, then long podcasts might be a little much with the recording, editing & publishing. Instead, it would be recommended to keep the podcast episode short. Alternatively, if you are releasing a podcast once a month, you want each of them to bring value and therefore it is recommended to produce longer episodes. 

How much time to do have for podcast editing?

If you are short on time then you should look to divide the podcast production evenly between, pre production, production, editing & post production and marketing. Always leave time to market and engage your podcast listeners. You can always hire help from a podcast production service or other audio professionals to edit podcasts.

Inviting guests

Inviting guests to your podcast is no easy task, especially if you are new to the game. However, they can be a powerful way to attract more listeners and boost engagement. 

Research 

You need to ensure that firstly you are researching your ideal guest, there is no point having a well-known influencer on when they have nothing in common with the podcast. Make sure you are choosing people who will be able to talk about whatever it is you decide to base the podcast on. 

Time

As most podcast producers will tell you, finding guests can take time, there can be a lot of back and forth and conversation before a podcast guest agrees, for this reason, it is imperative you give yourself time and don’t leave anything to the last minute. 

Personalise and sell

You are asking someone who possibly has never heard about your podcast before. This is why you need to personalise each pitch, tell them what they will get out of this, why this suits them, your marketing strategy, your target audience and how this can be a great opportunity. Make an argument that is irresistible and compelling, one that they won’t be able to resist. 

Follow up

People are busy, and just because you don’t hear back the first time doesn’t mean you should give up  – always follow up! 

Outlining

Structure is essential. The last thing you want is to lose track of what you are saying and have blank moments in your podcast. Once you have chosen your topic, research and decide what it is you want to cover. This doesn’t mean you have to write out word for word what you say, but simply write a list of subjects you wish to discuss; this helps the podcast to flow and for you to feel more relaxed when recording. This has the additional benefits of reducing the time it takes to edit podcasts and helps map out content for your digital marketing campaign.

Choosing a title

When choosing a title you need it to be engaging and you need to capture the audience’s attention. Here are a few things to consider when deciding:

Make sure it describes your topic well so that it is clear what the podcast is going to be about.

What is the problem that is going to be solved in this episode? What are the listeners going to gain from this?

Use SEO to make your title easily searchable on Google and all the major podcast platforms.

Now, you’re halfway there to mastering podcast production, however, you’re not quite ready to start producing like a pro – make sure to keep an eye out for our next blog post to find out how to conquer recording and editing.