Podcast FAQ

how to make a successful podcast

by Norwood Lemke DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Tips for Creating Successful Podcasts

  • Keep Your Podcast Focused. While it might be tempting to create a podcast that's all things to all listeners, successful shows tend to have a narrow, focused topic.
  • Picture Your Target Audience. When writing or producing content, it's helpful to think about the type of audience you're trying to reach with your podcast. ...
  • Be Consistent. If you want to be taken seriously, post episodes of your podcast regularly and consistently.
  • Plan Your Workflow. Should you write a detailed script or simply ad lib? It could work best to have a little of both, but that depends on the podcast. ...
  • Use Music Segments, but Don't Infringe on Copyrights. Add good intro and outro music to your podcast, but make sure you aren't infringing on anyone's copyright.
  • Promote Your Podcast. Once you have your podcast posted on your hosting service, you may think that your job is done, but it's imperative that you promote your podcast. ...

Here are five tips for a successful podcast.
  1. Keep the topic simple. ...
  2. You don't need to script out every word, but make a “rundown.” I think of it as a safety net. ...
  3. Be consistent. ...
  4. Include the audience. ...
  5. Ask each other questions.
Feb 25, 2022

Full Answer

How to create your own successful podcast?

You have probably heard it dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of times: “Make your own stuff.” Well ... Read on for concrete advice for filmmakers, TV-makers, theater-makers, podcast-and-other-media-makers, and more! Steve McQueen: Everything ...

What are some best practices for starting a podcast?

Podcast Best Practices: Creating an Intro and Outro. The intro of any podcast sets the stage. Your intro will either grab your listener’s attention or lose it. Your outro should always wrap up the podcast and leave a call to action. Keep reading to discover the podcast best practices for creating an intro and outro. The Intro

How to develop and grow a successful podcast?

  • Listen to your guests. For interview shows, it’s vital to not only come with pre-scripted questions but to allow guests to share the stories they’re passionate about. ...
  • Be consistent. ...
  • Don’t be afraid to promote your show when you appear on other podcasts. ...

How to start a profitable podcast?

Take a look at several out-of-the-box podcast money-making ideas below:

  • Advertisements-Podcasts that have a vast following are highly sought by advertisers. ...
  • Rely on sponsorships-You can generate thousands of dollars a month if you can find sponsors. ...
  • Establish relationships-When you are able to establish good relationships; you make your podcasts more profitable. ...

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How much money can I make from a podcast?

As an estimate, if your podcast has about 10,000 downloads per episode, you can expect to make between $500 – $900 per episode in affiliate sales.

How do you make a good podcast?

How To Create Interesting Podcast EpisodesTalk about things you're interested in. ... Focus on your target audience. ... Tell lots of stories. ... Help your audience take the next step. ... Ask your listeners questions and report their responses. ... Stay on topic and don't wander too much. ... Invite unique experts onto your show.More items...•

How much money do you need to start a podcast?

In fact, if you already have a computer and you're operating on a shoestring budget, you can record, edit, and launch a podcast for less than $200. On the other hand, if you want to use higher-end equipment, starting a podcast can cost a few thousand dollars.

How long does it take to build a successful podcast?

You should start to see podcast growth within the first 30 days of your launch, and your podcast growth should continue indefinitely month over month, even if it's a small amount. Slow and steady growth is a good thing in the podcasting space.

What makes a bad podcast?

Bad audio quality. Too many ad reads or annoying/irrelevant ad reads. Lack of preparation or planning.

Do podcasts make money?

Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show. You probably hear your favorite shows plug their advertisers a few times in every episode. How much you earn from a sponsor depends on the number of downloads your episodes earn.

How long should podcasts be?

The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners. But maybe your specific audience wants more in-depth, exploratory information; in which case, 45-90 minutes would provide more value.

Should I film my podcast?

If you film a video podcast, you'll have extra footage you can cut into short, sharable segments. You'll also have behind-the-scenes content to share. Creating variety in your marketing can increase engagement and keep people interested. Another benefit of doing a video show is that you can do a live recording.

How much does it cost to put a podcast on Spotify?

Podcasters will be able to select one of three price tiers for subscriptions through Spotify: $2.99, $4.99 or $7.99 per month. “We felt like rather than put the burden on creators [to set pricing], we should make a recommendation on what we feel are strong price points,” said Mignano.

How do I make my podcast viral?

In SummaryBecome an early mover in a niche.Release frequent content.Use all distribution networks.Create a separate website that captures leads and makes the podcasts available.Grow your mailing lists.Interview guests and send them links to their episodes.Send guests links to their episodes.More items...

How do you know if a podcast is successful?

Download numbers are one of the most obvious metrics for measuring the success of your podcast. Download stats are immediately accessible to you, from the minute you launch your first episode. Watching the numbers climb can be rewarding. Some might even say addictive.

Why is my podcast not growing?

So if your show isn't growing, look first to the premise, because it's the first interaction your audience will have with your podcast. If it's too vague or undifferentiated (i.e., “a show about [industry]”), you can't expect listeners to select it.

How to make a good podcast?

This is one of the keys to a great podcast—you want each listener to feel like you’re speaking directly to them. Script, sketch, and perform your podcast with an image of your ideal listener in your mind. Imagining your target listener will help you shape the terminology you use and the overall tone of your podcast.

What to do if you're interested in making a podcast?

If you’re interested in making a podcast, you probably already like listening to them. Look for common factors in the podcasts you like listening to, and use them to help you brainstorm the format and focus for your own podcast.

What is a monologue in podcasts?

Monologue, in which a single host speaks on a given topic. Multiple host, in which two or more hosts banter back and forth. Narrative, which is similar to a monologue but focuses on a particular story. Mixed, which simply means that the format of the podcast can vary by episode.

What is the best way to improve audio quality on a podcast?

A pop filter and mic stand. These aren’t essential, but the pop filter (basically a screen placed between your mouth and the mic) will definitely improve your podcast’s audio quality. A sound mixing board. This is another non-essential option, but it will enable you to produce much higher audio quality.

Where to record podcast?

Record your podcast in a room with at least basic soundproofing. Using a recording studio probably isn’t in the budget for your podcast. In reality, recording in your bedroom or basement will work out fine if you take some simple soundproofing measures like hanging curtains and laying down thick carpet.

Can you make a podcast with two people?

Community Answer. Yes, absolutely! You can help each other with ideas and work together to make a broader, more interesting podcast. Having a single person in just fine but two is great because you can share the work, which includes editing, making sure the sound is good and having great content.

Is there a rule for making a podcast?

There are no rules when it comes to making a podcast, which is, of course, one of the format’s most appealing qualities. That said, podcasts do tend to follow one of several common formats, including: Interview, in which the host or hosts chat with one or more guests.

What is the point of a podcast?

The whole point of a podcast is that people listen to it, so give them a reason to click on one of your episodes. Make it clear to people what they will get from listening to your show. If you look on any podcast directory you will see shows with titles like “How To…”, “Five Tips For…” etc.

What is a podcast host?

Media or Podcast hosts are services that store your audio and allow your listeners to listen, download, and subscribe to your podcast. One common misconception when learning how to start a podcast is that you upload your podcast to places like iTunes. This actually isn’t the case.

How many episodes of a season of podcast?

When you start a seasonal podcast, each season will usually have a theme. You might create episodes based on that theme or topic for 6-12 episodes, then have a break. After a month or two, you’ll launch a new season (with another theme/topic) and repeat the process.

What is a successful podcast?

1 – Define a Successful Podcast. First thing's first: success means many different things to many different people. For some, it's about the big download numbers. Others dream of earning a full-time living from their shows. Many business podcasters see success as getting regular sales enquiries because of their content.

How long does it take to build an audience for a podcast?

One podcast tip that many aspiring podcasters don't like to hear is that it can take years to build an audience. And in order to make a successful podcast you need to be prepared to turn up consistently and regularly over the next few years. That doesn't mean that you can't have short-term goals though.

What is the common mistake that podcasters make?

A common mistake many new podcasters make is to build their shows around an audience that doesn't yet exist. If your episodes are built around answering listener questions, or doing live shows, then I'd recommend going back to the planning stages. In the early days it falls on you and you alone to create your content.

What happens when you run a podcast?

When you run a podcast, things don't always go to plan. Life can get in the way, hardware and software can break, files can vanish, and there's really no shortage of things that'll test your patience in the long run. When things go wrong, you really need to have a solid core reason for wanting to podcast. One that's big enough that it'll ...

Is it a good idea to run a podcast?

It's definitely a good idea to break down your main ambitions into smaller achievable aims. This can help give you a sense of progression. But hopefully you just enjoy the process of running a podcast. If you do, then you'll stand the best chance of sticking at it and growing an audience.

Is it easier to start a podcast?

After all, it's never been easier to actually launch a podcast. You don't need to spend a lot at all, and there are countless tools out there that can make things really easy for you. Once you've recorded a piece of audio and uploaded it to your media host, you can find your very first episode proudly sitting in places like iTunes ...

Do you care about your podcast before it goes live?

Another uncomfortable truth about your podcast before and during its launch, is that – unless you're famous before your podcast goes live – nobody really cares about it.

Why are podcasts not getting attention?

A lot of podcasts end up failing to attract attention because they were poorly produced and did not deliver compelling content.

Do podcast hosts make things up?

Far too many podcast hosts are making things up as they go. While this may work for some, in most cases, it can prove to be a recipe for disaster. Before you record a podcast episode, you should create an agenda.

Is podcasting a trend in 2021?

With the support of the right professionals, you can learn how to make a successful podcast in almost no time at all. Podcasting is proving to be one of the most popular forms of content marketing in 2021. The momentum behind podcasting shows no signs of slowing down. This is a content format that audiences love to consume.

How to make a podcast?

Step 1: Define your audience and objective. There is no reason to develop a podcast if you don’t actually understand for whom you are developing the podcast — and what you hope they do after having listened to it. Your goal may be to educate, to influence, or to pitch an idea. Document your objective and your audience and don’t veer from these.

How to make a podcast on Podbean?

Buzzsprout , ZenCast , Podbean, and Captivate are all potential options. Fill in the metadata and other information you compiled in Step 2. Remember to upload your podcast artwork.

How many people listen to podcasts a month?

More than 1/3 of Americans listen to at least one podcast per month — with 1 in 5 people listening to a podcast weekly.

How to edit a show?

When you edit the show, listen to the content how most of your audience would listen to it — through headphones. Focus first on editing the basic portion of the show — particularly your voice and the voices of anyone you interview. Once you are confident in this element, focus on your intro, outro, transitions, and other musical elements in the show.

Do I need to decide if my podcast brings the ROI?

Make sure you give your podcast time to mature and make sure you give yourself time to figure out the nuances of the podcasting world. Yes, sooner or later you will need to determine if your podcast brings the ROI you seek, but don’t rush. Be patient.

Is podcasting a problem?

The only problem is that podcasting is new enough that it probably isn’t something most people studied in school. Similarly, you may not have had much — if any — experience working with people who have developed podcasts for organizations. So, the problem to solve is clear — but so is the opportunity.

Have an Aim or Goal

Make sure your podcast has an overall goal or aim. For example, if you’re making a successful podcast about animals in rescue shelters, your overall aim could be to encourage people to adopt animals from shelters. If you have a passion for your podcast and a goal to get to, your listeners will share your passion too.

Consistency

If you pitch your podcast as being uploaded twice every week, stick to that. People like consistency, so if you know you won’t be able to cope with two episodes a week, narrow it down to one a week. Don’t be afraid to do less episodes if it means they are more manageable and better quality.

Audience Engagement

Your audience is the most important thing to bear in mind during podcast production. They should always be your priority, because if they don’t approve, you lose the trust of your listeners and your listening figures will see a sharp decline. Make an hour or so each day to interact with your audience.

Clear Audio and Editing

While you don’t necessarily need to fork out loads of money for a super expensive microphone and advanced editing software, you do need to have some awareness of the quality of what you’re publishing.

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1 – Define A Successful Podcast

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First thing’s first: success means many different things to many different people. For some, it’s about the big download numbers. Others dream of earning a full-time living from their shows. Many business podcasters see success as getting regular sales enquiries because of their content. And for others, it’s simply a case of havi…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

2 – Have A “Why”

  • When you run a podcast, things don’t always go to plan. Life can get in the way, hardware and software can break, files can vanish, and there’s really no shortage of things that’ll test your patiencein the long run. When things go wrong, you really need to have a solid core reason for wanting to podcast. One that’s big enough that it’ll never be overshadowed by any of the above. …
See more on thepodcasthost.com

3 – Play The Long Game

  • One podcast tip that many aspiring podcasters don’t like to hear is that it can take years to build an audience. And in order to make a successful podcast you need to be prepared to turn up consistently and regularly over the next few years. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have short-term goals though. It’s definitely a good idea to break down you...
See more on thepodcasthost.com

4 – Make It Sustainable

  • A big part of enjoying the process of podcasting, is that it isn’t a complete battle to get new episodes done and out. In the planning stages it’s easy to have big plans about the time you can dedicate to your show each week. It’s also easy to create an episode template in your head that’s going to take a lot of work to produce on a regular basis. The key to making sure working on you…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

5 – Don’T Get Stuck on “The Launch”

  • I’ve already said quite a bit on the long-term nature of making a successful podcast. Unfortunately however, it’s the concept of a big explosive “Launch” that many aspiring podcasters choose to focus on instead. Another uncomfortable truth about your podcast before and during its launch, is that – unless you’re famous before your podcast goes live – nobody really cares about it. It shou…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

6 – Take Control

  • Long term, you’ll want to check in regularly with your audience and seek feedback from them. This is the difference between a podcast surviving and thriving. In the very early episodes though, you won’t have an established audience at all. These early listeners haven’t fully bought into your podcast yet, and with each episode, they’re weighing up whether or not to stick with you. So, on…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

7 – Don’T Rely on Audience Participation

  • A common mistake many new podcasters make is to build their shows around an audience that doesn’t yet exist. If your episodes are built around answering listener questions, or doing live shows, then I’d recommend going back to the planning stages. In the early days it falls on you and you alone to create your content. Anything else is only going to lead to disillusionment and disap…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

Looking For More Podcast Tips?

  • Hopefully you’ve taken a lot from these podcast tips, all aimed at helping you create a successful podcast. These are beyond the usual “What mic should I get?” and “What media host should I use?” questions, and show that you’re constantly looking to improve and take things to the next level. That’s not to say those mic and hosting questions aren’t valid or important, though. I’ve link…
See more on thepodcasthost.com

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