If you like the idea of entertaining others or have a lot of opinions and ideas that you want to get out there, then starting your own podcast could be an ideal choice for you. Podcasts have really boomed as a form of entertainment in the past few years and more people than ever before are listening to them on a weekly or even daily basis. When it comes to podcasts, there’s something for everybody with a huge range of topics covered. Starting your own podcast is something that you can easily do in your spare time, and with minimal equipment. Some of the most popular podcasts today were started in a bedroom with a basic microphone and a laptop.
Choosing Your Niche
The first thing to decide is what your podcast is going to be about. Listeners want variety, so don’t let the fact that there are already lots of podcasts covering different topics put you off. The more the better, so if you have something different to talk about, or even a different take on a podcast type that has already been done, you could start a successful show. Bear in mind that running a podcast means talking about a topic several times a month at least, researching your stories, and learning as much as you can about it, so the most important thing is that you choose a podcast topic that you are passionate about.
Getting the Right Recording Setup
While it has become easier than ever to start your podcast from home with some basic recording equipment, it’s a good idea to consider using a professional recording studio to create your show. Working from a professional studio is a good idea since you will have all the equipment that you need to get the best results along with access to sound engineers who can help you make sure that the quality is top-notch. The professional studios from PIRATE are a popular choice with destinations all across the country, including these Chicago recording studios which come fully equipped; making them perfect for recording podcasts.
Naming and Branding
To get the best results from your podcast, it’s a good idea to come up with a good brand name. How you name your podcast is important since what your podcast is called is going to be one of the first things that your potential listeners see when they come across your show. Your name should not be too long or too short, and it should be effective in letting listeners know what your podcast is going to be about.
Marketing and Audience Building
Chances are that the first couple of episodes that you release are not going to have a huge number of listeners. This is quite normal; however, you can take advantage of any listeners that you do get to build your audience through feedback. Asking for feedback from your listeners gives you an idea of what people are looking for, what’s working well so far and what can be improved to ensure that your podcast is successful. It is also worth considering marketing your platform on various channels including social media and setting up a website, to make it more discoverable to anybody who may be interested in listening.
Researching Your Content Ideas
Nobody wants to listen to a podcast that has not been fact checked. Unless you are discussing opinions, then it’s important to do your research thoroughly into the topic that you are interested in talking about on your podcast. Whether you’re telling stories, providing education, or discussing facts, it’s important to be as thorough as possible. Even if you seriously believed that something was true at the time, being caught out talking about fake news or making claims that you can’t back up can be a really bad look for your podcast that can damage your listener numbers. Always add disclaimers if you are not sure about something.
Be Consistent
When it comes to being successful with any kind of online content including podcasts, consistency is often key. While podcasts are growing in popularity, it will usually take a few consistent episode uploads for you to start seeing your audience and your success grow. Being consistent in recording and uploading new episodes will help you grow your audience as they come to expect when they are going to get a new episode from you. The most successful podcasts tend to upload a new episode consistently on a certain day of the week. Doing this not only makes it easier for you to plan your schedule by giving yourself a deadline to work to, but it also means that your listeners are less likely to miss your show since they know when to expect new content.
These days, podcasts are more popular than ever before and with the right strategy, anybody can run a successful podcast.
