Podcasts aren’t just something you listen to during a long commute or while working out. Today, podcasts are also a great way to build trust with your audience and attract new subscribers, donors and stakeholders. In fact, according to Edison Research, more than 70 million Americans regularly listen to podcasts—up from 45 million in 2016!
But, how do you create a successful podcast? We’ve got the tips that will help you get started on creating an engaging podcast that builds trust and attracts new audiences.
Introduce your podcast
In the introduction, you should introduce yourself and explain why you are starting a podcast. You can also talk about your experience as a business owner and how this has helped shape your show. Finally, it is important to emphasize what makes your podcast unique from other podcasts out there.
Be unique
When you’re starting a podcast, the most important thing you can do is provide something for your listeners that no one else can. The best way to do this is to be authentic and unique. You want to create content that’s interesting and valuable; if you’re just trying to sound like other people, your audience will pick up on it pretty quickly—and they’ll tune out.
Think about what your audience wants, then give it to them. If there are topics or guests they would enjoy hearing about, those are good places to start.
Tell your story
One of the most important aspects of podcasting is telling your story. You want listeners to understand who you are, what you do and how you’re different from other organizations. This is where it helps to define your mission, vision and values, as well as explain why they matter to people who work with or support your organization.
Invest in quality audio
While a great microphone is the cornerstone of a high quality podcast, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. You also need to consider your recording technique and what kind of environment you are in.
To start with, try talking directly into your microphone (instead of away from it) so that your voice sounds natural when heard back through headphones or speakers. Then make sure there’s nothing else around that could contribute unwanted noise–like traffic outside–and ideally switch off any fans in your room as well!
Release a teaser episode
Your teaser episode should be short—the shorter the better. A good length is 60 to 90 seconds, but you can go longer if you need to. The goal is to give people a taste of what your podcast will be like, so don’t worry about explaining too much.
Posting an episode teaser on social media is a must before releasing an entire podcast episode online. You can share it as often as you’d like, but two or three times per week should be sufficient. Make sure to include a link in each post so listeners know where they can find the complete episode once it’s ready for release!
You’ll want to point readers towards the full episode on other platforms too—your blog probably has a section where episodes are listed, and email newsletters may have their own sections as well!
Get the word out
Now that you have a great podcast, it’s time to get the word out. Use social media, your mailing list and other tools available in order to promote your podcast. Consider creating a landing page for your website that promotes the latest episode of your show. You can also ask people who like what you’re doing to subscribe to your podcast so that they’ll hear about new episodes when they arrive. You can even invite them to share with their friends!
Wrap up
We hope these tips have helped you feel confident and prepared to start your own podcast. We’re excited to hear what you create!