3 Tips about Launching a Kickass Podcast, from My First Million Producers

The pandemic birthed an increase in puppies, planting flowers in Animal Crossing, and podcasts — with 1.1m+ exhibits launched in 2020 alone.

However quickly, the podcast phenomenon plateaued. New podcasts decreased a 12 months later, and in 2022, fell by 80%. 😬

Would you trip this rollercoaster? Be trustworthy. Supply: NiemanLab

Does this imply the podcast practice has left the station? No extra tickets obtainable to savvy hosts and sultry voices?

In no way — your podcast simply can’t suck.

Fortunately, podcast geniuses Darren Clarke (government producer of My First Million) and Kal Elsebai (HubSpot’s senior supervisor of podcast technique) shared their recommendations on how one can create a killer present. The 2 broke it down into three distinct components:

Right here’s how one can flip your corporation or area of interest pastime (ever needed to hearken to 49 minutes of stationary fangirling?) into the following large factor in podcasting:

1. Create the podcast you wish to hearken to

Should you’re launching a podcast to make a fast buck… assume once more.

As an alternative of discovering a worthwhile area of interest, begin along with your passions. Should you can rave a couple of matter for hours, chances are high your enthusiasm will come by, and other people can pay consideration.

Should you’re ranging from scratch, conduct your analysis, determine your area of interest, and work out your distinctive tackle that matter.

“Area of interest down till it hurts,” as Darren lovingly suggests.

Contemplate the podcast Seashore Too Sandy, Water Too Moist. Because the title suggests, this broadly well-liked podcast explores probably the most dramatic one-star critiques ever written. And that’s it. The hosts merely use their cracking wit and high-class Karen’ing to create a distinct segment, comedic podcast.

Bear in mind to ask your self — what is going to listeners take away from tuning in to your podcast? Will they whip out the Notes app? Will they chuckle at your wit all through?

No matter feelings listeners expertise from listening to you, determine the promise your podcast makes to them.

If you have already got an viewers, discover the center level between your ardour and their desires. Ballot your clients, e-newsletter subscribers, or social media followers. If attainable, get them on a name.

2. Launch with slingshot momentum

Earlier than you launch your podcast into the ether, set it up for achievement:

📅 Work out a practical cadence. Are you able to produce an episode every week? How about each different week? No matter you select, keep it up.

🎙️ Report a number of episodes earlier than launching. That means, you give your self respiratory room to provide future episodes.

🎨 Design compelling podcast artwork. The thumbnail ought to inform a narrative proper out the gate. When a consumer scrolls by exhibits, the artwork ought to inform them what your present delivers.

A combination of cool artwork and funky headshots appears to be the successful formulation. However you do you! Supply: HubSpot Podcast Community

✏️ Write a handy guide a rough description. Your podcast’s description ought to clarify precisely  who you might be and why they need to hear.

📺 Create a trailer that calls for consideration. The trailer on your podcast ought to characteristic the hosts, your matter authority, and what listeners can count on — all, ideally, in beneath a minute.

It would really feel unusual calling up the dad and mom and seeing if they’ll promote your new venture. However the second your podcast launches, put apart that ego and beg your loved ones and associates to share, share, share.

Why endure the embarrassment? As a result of launching provides you the chance to construct critical momentum.

Platform algorithms, together with Spotify, favor new exhibits and can promote them greater than older ones. However you solely have ~48 hours to leverage it. So, for the final time, name your dad and mom. Please?

Outdoors of leveraging your private community, you possibly can:

The underside line: Get your face (and voice) on the market!

3. Make financial institution — in due time.

From the beginning, we warned you that podcasting requires some heating up earlier than it will get you that chilly, arduous money. However it should come – when you construct up a large viewers. Right here’s how you are able to do simply that:

⭐ Star as a visitor on one other podcast. If in case you have a connection to different podcasts in your area of interest, strive reaching out to star as a visitor. This works particularly properly in case you convey a singular viewpoint, whether or not it’s your experience or expertise in your subject.

🎧 Take note of viewership spikes. To construct an viewers, you must create constantly well-liked content material. Discover what resonates along with your listeners by taking note of spikes in viewership. Did a sure matter generate an enormous quantity of listens? Create episodes round an analogous matter.

🤩 Collaborate with influencers. Sure, even in podcasting, influencer advertising may also help develop your viewers. Determine well-liked influencers in your area of interest, attain out to them, and see if you may get a partnership with them (e.g., promotional posts, movies, and so forth).

Podcasts become profitable utilizing two modes: promoting and subscriptions.

🏢 Introduce ads. “This episode is delivered to you by…” brings in advert income for podcasts. Listeners dedicate nearly an hour of their time to somebody they belief on a subject they love. When hosts advocate services or products, they concentrate.

🙋 Provide exclusives. Podcasts typically provide unique content material to subscribers, comparable to behind-the-scenes recordings or bonus episodes. You possibly can report an hour of content material and reserve half of it for subscriber-exclusive content material, for instance.

You may get sponsored promoting on your podcast in numerous other ways, some are simpler (however much less worthwhile) than others. You may:

• Attain out to manufacturers or small companies straight

• Turn out to be an affiliate marketer for Amazon Market, Audible, and others

• Reap the benefits of platform-based promoting, comparable to Spotify’s subscription mannequin for his or her podcasts

However monetization occurs in due time. It is best to prioritize creating compelling content material and rising your viewers earlier than pondering of sponsorships. Few manufacturers can pay to promote to a nonexistent, and even small viewers.

Nonetheless, podcasting can flip your information (and exquisite voice) right into a long-term funding.