In today’s digital era, it seems as though everyone feels confident about starting a podcast. If you place 100 people in a room, there’s a high chance that at least 95 of them are keen on the idea of selling recordings of conversations held between their friends. Spoiler alert – rambling into a microphone isn’t going to make you rich and producing a quality podcast entails so much more work than that.
The truth is that there’s some seriously good competition out there, which means that unless your podcast stands out it’s going to be completely drowned out. Rather than being disheartened this should be your primary motivator – here are a couple of handy tips to follow.
Laying the Foundations
As exciting a feat as creating a podcast is, you still need to have a solid plan of action. You can’t simply do guesswork and pray for the best, so keep these three tips in mind:
1. Find Your Target Audience
This is one of the most crucial steps when starting your podcast, because if you don’t have any direction of who you’re presenting for, then you may as well be talking to a brick wall.
You can pick light-hearted topics, with tongue-in-cheek banter, like who should take the garbage out after you’ve taken the huge step to move in with your significant other. You could also go down the route of giving tips and tricks on why investing in some ‘down’ time is essential in today’s fast-paced life. Like, for instance, there’s nothing wrong in playing a casual game at an online casino, provided it’s done so responsibly and that you register through established affiliate site, such as NoDeposit365 UK. But we digress, our point is, finding your target audience goes hand in hand with finding your niche - you can’t have one without the other.
2. Identify Your Niche
Being an expert in your field isn’t just a trendy way of introducing yourself, it’s an essential ingredient that will make your podcast stand out. By making use of various marketing research tools, you’ll be able to determine whether there’s a niche that aligns with your podcast’s offerings.
Start by pitching your ideas to friends, families, or maybe even your colleagues to get real-life feedback while finetuning your positioning. In this case, going too broad with your range of interests isn’t a good idea because the idea here is to become the go-to person for that specific topic.
3. Be Unique
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is what will make your podcast stand out in this already hyper-competitive market? The simple answer to this is your unique value proposition which is why your messaging and mission both need to be crystal clear from day one. You’re going to want to kick off your podcast with a bang right from the first episode, so feel free to think outside the box to get there. Be genuine, be honest, and remember that building trust with your audience is the number one reason your followers will come back for more.
Charting Your Course
Now that you’ve laid the foundations, it’s time to be more organised and systematic in what you’ve set off to do.
1. Episodes, Topics and Structure
For your podcast to achieve the sharp focus we spoke of earlier on, you’re going to want to sit down and think your topics through. It’s always good to start with 20 to 30 really good ideas before you even think about recording anything. Remember to stay in your lane and structure your episodes in a way that they offer a rich blend of knowledge, entertainment, insights, and practical information.
Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t garnered thousands of followers on your first try, this is perfectly normal. At this stage what you’re looking for is a small audience that’s genuinely interested in what you’ve got to say. As long as the episodes keep rolling and the quality remains constant, your fan base will eventually blossom.
2. Schedule a Content Calendar
The golden rule of podcasting is consistency is key, and creating a solid content calendar is something you’re going to want to take seriously. With the help of a couple of handy scheduling tools, you’re able to keep up to date while ensuring that your broadcast is always regular and reliable.
At this stage, it’s also important to keep in mind that you’re not just publishing content, but you’re also building a community and if there’s one thing podcast listeners are known for, then it’s that they’re creatures of habit.
Getting Technical
Now that you’ve got all the groundwork in place, it’s time to set up shop. For a good podcast you’re going to need a reliable recording device, a microphone and some editing software. If you’re thinking about going down the video podcast route, then you’ll also need a couple of cameras and some sort of lighting setup.
When it comes to this kind of equipment it’s really easy to go over budget really fast, and the best advice we could think of giving here is that it’s never a good idea to be rooting through the bargain bin at this stage. Investing in quality tech will ensure that your projects turn out the way you envisioned them without the risk of having any unnecessary equipment failures.
Monetizing
And now for the part we’ve all been waiting for – how can I make money from my podcast? You’ll be quick to discover that monetizing a podcast is a little bit like rummaging through a treasure trove that’s packed with potential streams of revenue.
One of the most popular options is by acquiring sponsorships and advertising contracts. Here you’ll play the role of matchmaker that pairs your podcast with businesses and brands that align with your values and complement your offerings.
Another sought out option is affiliate marketing where you’ll be expected to influence your audience by singing a particular product or service’s praises in exchange for a commission on any sales made via your unique affiliate link.
Apart from that, there’s always the opportunity to offer premium content against subscription, which could range from anywhere between ad-free episodes, to early access or exclusive bonus content and more. By giving your listeners a little something extra, you’re also generating additional income on the side.
And lastly, you’re also able to sell products or services that are directly related to your podcast. For example, if you’re a nutritional advisor then you might be interested in selling exclusive meal plans to your subscribers.
Making money from a podcast can be as simple or complex as you make it, and by exploring the different streams of revenue available within your niche there’s a good chance you could turn your passion into a lucrative side hustle one episode at a time.