Podcast FAQ

what makes a good podcast

by Daniella Dare Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What makes a good podcast?

  1. Focus on a central idea. Every podcast has something it's trying to convey to an audience. ...
  2. Play to an audience. The audience is king. This is something that good podcasters understand in their bones. ...
  3. Regular schedules. This might seem painfully obvious, but it’s also one of the most important. All good podcasts have a regular release schedule they adhere to.
  4. Show Structures. Listening to a new podcast is always a risk. ...
  5. Authenticity. This final element is one of the hardest to quantify, but it’s present in all the best podcasts nonetheless.

To create the most engaging podcast, your topic should be something that you are knowledgeable and passionate about. The creator and host of the podcast, “With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus” came up with the idea for her completely improvised podcast with guests because she is an avid improviser.Jan 1, 2022

What are the most successful podcasts?

Podcasts Top 100. - August 22nd, 2021. Wks On Chart Peak. Crime Junkie audiochuck | Ashley Flowers. 113 1. Dateline NBC NBC News. 21 2. The Bobby Bones Show iHeartRadio. 104 3.

How do people make great podcasts?

Part 1 of 3: Creating Interesting Content Download Article

  1. Listen to podcasts for ideas and inspiration. If you’re interested in making a podcast, you probably already like listening to them.
  2. Choose a podcast topic that you're passionate about. There’s no magic formula for making a hit podcast that draws in a huge audience.
  3. Determine which format suits your topic and style. ...

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What makes a good vlog or podcast?

  • They are affordable and easy to produce
  • You may feel uncomfortable sitting in front of a camera, but podcasting helps you relax and talk about a subject you are passionate about. ...
  • You need a smartphone to record your podcast, and a program to edit it later because you may want to have some parts cut from the final material.

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How to sound good on a podcast?

  • Audio files should transmit from both output speakers clearly.
  • Microphone recordings should not sound muffled and have a decent amount of volume.
  • Audio file should not include any distortive sounds like signal interference, clipping, crackling, wind noise, or that somewhat rubbing sound that happens when a person handles a live microphone.

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What makes a podcast stand out?

Engaging with your listeners is the best way to make your podcast stand out. It provides priceless insights to the audience. It gives them a chance to overcome their pains and struggles. Thus, making you more relatable to them.

What should a good podcast contain?

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...•

What are the five considerations when producing podcasts?

Here are five considerations to take into account when evaluating if a podcast is right for your brand:Audience: Find Your Focus. Audiences consume content differently. ... Format: Develop a Consistent Approach. ... Material: Curate Compelling Content. ... Frequency: Commit to a Cadence. ... Distribution & Access: Build Your Strategy.

What are 3 reasons podcasts are so popular?

Why are podcasts so popular now?Podcasts allow for multitasking.Listening to a podcast is an easy way to catch up on the latest news and events.Podcast are entertaining.Podcast adaptations will grow in numbers.Smart speakers will push the boundaries of podcasting.More items...•

1. Do Face-to-Face Interviews

Before you start a podcast, make sure that in every episode, you interview your guests in person.

4. Make Your Podcast a Platform for Learning

Out of all the things your audience could be doing, they chose to spend the next 1-2 hours of their lives listening to you. Make it count.

5. Value High-Quality Audio

A Skype or phone interview will produce a low-quality audio file. Those who regularly listen to podcasts know just how annoying this can be.

6. You Should be the Star of the Podcast

Typical podcast hosting may be a podcaster reading from a list of questions and asking them one after the other. This doesn’t make a good podcast great, though.

7. Keep it Real

Keep it all in the episode — every mispronunciation, laughter, spilled coffee…

8. Get Personal

Nope, it isn’t all about politics, religion, social media, and whatever topic you’re tackling. It’s about the person sitting across from you.

9. Make Ads Fun

Ads don’t necessarily make or break a podcast. Sure, you need to promote that app that’s sponsoring this episode, but remember, the people on the other end of the podcast came there to listen to you, not to hear an ad.

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 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.

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.

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 makes a good podcast host?

A good host has to have the energy to sustain this media form on audio alone while remaining authentic and trustworthy to the audience. The key features that are essential for hosting are:

Why is podcasting so popular?

It is popular for a few reasons, including: In a hectic world, it has become the new “talk radio” of commuters during the week.

Why do podcasts have engagement?

Whether you’re recording an interview show or just talking frankly to the person listening, engagement tends to feel more personal than other mediums. Because of this, many podcasters choose to engage further with their audiences by asking for a comment, question, or even call-in. This serves to build a back and forth that keeps listeners interested and keeps the conversation relevant.

What are the things that can improve your web presence?

But, if you want high viewership and a dynamic web presence, there are a few more things you can do to improve your chances. Quality, consistency, and passion create the perfect balance for a popular program. Passion and energy from the idea to the host and presentation to audience engagement drive results.

Why did Lauren Lapkus start the podcast?

The creator and host of the podcast, “ With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus ” came up with the idea for her completely improvised podcast with guests because she is an avid improviser. It’s something she enjoys and is good at.

Why is podcast important?

It allows people to hear great bite-sized information for self-improvement or education. This makes it an interesting medium for many creators with skills they want to share and information to spread. People can connect with creators more personally through podcasts.

Is it hard to make a podcast?

Choosing a podcast name or topic you think will be popular that you have little interest in will make it even more difficult. If you wouldn’t listen to it, you shouldn’t make it. The podcast you go with should be specific and appealing to a wide audience.

Advice from Someone who used to Hate Podcasts

Like many people, when I first started listening to podcasts, it was far from enjoyable. Now, I will admit I actually started listening to talk radio, which is a bit different from podcasts but still similar enough that they coloured my perception of podcasts as well. You want me to listen to people talking in a room? How boring. No thank you.

They Collaborate with other Shows

As with everything, you want to expand your audience and be found by new listeners. Networking and connecting with other podcasters is super important. There are TONS of Facebook groups, Discord Servers, and Twitter lists for podcasters out there.

The Episodes are Consistent

This is some pretty common advice, but I think it’s still worth reiterating. I’ve often found interesting shows that I really liked that ran out of content and when they would post again I wasn’t aware of any predictable schedule. Without a day and time to look forward to it, I didn’t return.

They Keep Listeners Engaged

This advice comes from my experience listening to an audiobook about farming years ago. The narrator’s voice was so monotone I fell asleep. How can I focus on the topic when every sentence sounds the same?

Always Explain the Jargon

This is crucial for shows that specialize in niches like marketing or science. Those unique and uncommon words that aren’t part of our everyday vocabulary need to be explained.

Transcribing the Audio

Embarrassingly enough, I’ve only done this for one of the shows I have worked on. It’s important to make sure your show is accessible to everyone.

The Show Benefits the Listener

This is something I’ve learned more from writing than from podcasting, but I realized recently that my favourite shows often teach me something.

What Makes a Good Podcast?

When I did some research and looked at all the content I consume they all did one of the following:

Never Compare Your Numbers To Others

When you are in a corporate setting, if you check the HR handbook I'm sure there is a paragraph about sharing payroll knowledge. Why? Because it breeds resentment. The same is true for podcasting. I had a client once that was overjoyed that they were getting 150 downloads per episode.

There is Always Someone Better

As a guitar player growing up, I could hold my own. Then one day I saw a new guitarist in concert named Yngwie Malmsteen. He is amazing, and no matter how much I practice I feel I'll never be that good. Did I still love playing guitar? Yes. Did I still love playing in front of people? Yes. That is why I kept playing the guitar.

Apples To Oranges

If someone says they have 150 downloads of a podcast about pigmy ponies, that's a great number (depending on how many people are into Pigmy Ponies). If someone had 150 downloads per episode and they were doing a weight loss show (in a country where 70% of us need to lose weight) that might be seen as under-performing.

They Chose To Listen to You

Try to never use the word "only," as in "I only have 200 downloads per episode." My background is in education and a big class was 20 people so 200 downloads per episode is 10 classrooms. That was a full hallway (and then some) in the building where I use to teach.

Work With Me

I found a team that can affordably edit your audio and make you sound great. When you get a cavity in your tooth, you don't start reading books and watching YouTube videos on how to fix it. You call in someone qualified to do it right the first time.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

What makes a podcast great?

But at the heart of it all, the thing that defines a podcast as great is the host! The host is the glue that holds everything together. They determine what content is created, which guests make an appearance, and whether or not the audience becomes a strong, engaged community. Becoming a great podcast host takes some skills, practice, ...

How to help a podcast?

To help your podcast thrive, you have to learn to create the conversation your audience desires, become an expert on the subject, and really seek out the best guests to interview on your show. Of course, each of our podcasts has a unique spin and requires any number of important podcast host traits to make it a success.

How to prepare for a podcast interview?

Before the interview, make sure to research your guest and become familiar with their work. Take the time to read their books, listen to other podcasts that they’ve been interviewed on, and really get accustomed to their topic of choice .

Who is the founder of We Edit Podcasts?

Carli van Heerden. Carli is the Founder & CEO of We Edit Podcasts. What differentiates a great podcast from an average podcast? Well, you can say it’s the audio quality or the guests who are interviewed. But at the heart of it all, the thing that defines a podcast as great is the host! The host is the glue that holds everything together.

How to get your guest to be more prepared for an interview?

A great way to get your guest to be more prepared is by sending over sample questions ahead of time to give them a chance to look them over and think through the possible answers they could give.

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Focus on A Central Idea

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Every podcast has something it's trying to convey to an audience. This can be anything from a specific political viewpoint to sharing knowledge about a particular topic. The core idea is the fundamental reason why any podcast exists. Good podcasts have their main idea defined and clearly understand what they’re trying t…
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Regular Schedules

  • This might seem painfully obvious, but it’s also one of the most important. All good podcasts have a regular release schedule they adhere to. Podcast consumers have expectations of content creators. You’re performing a show after all! Like with television programs, having a release schedule that your audience can trust is crucial for maintaining engagement and increasing visi…
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Show Structures

  • Listening to a new podcast is always a risk. With so much ability for content creators to target specific audiences, it can be hard to tell if a show is going to cover what you expect. Delivering an explicit structure on your content can serve to help listeners know what to expect and keep them engaged with the ideas you want to cover. A great example of this is “This American Life’s” act s…
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Authenticity

  • This final element is one of the hardest to quantify, but it’s present in all the best podcasts nonetheless. Podcasting is an extremely intimate medium; defined by the singular relationship between the podcast’s host(s) and the listener. This is something that a good podcast creator embraces by opening up and speaking from a place that is authentic and vulnerable, the podcas…
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