3 Recommendations on 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+ reveals 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 journey this rollercoaster? Be trustworthy. Supply: NiemanLab

Does this imply the podcast prepare 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 tips about how one can create a killer present. The 2 broke it down into three distinct components:

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

1. Create the podcast you need to take heed to

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

As an alternative of discovering a worthwhile area of interest, begin together with your passions. When you can rave a few matter for hours, likelihood is your enthusiasm will come by means of, and other people pays consideration.

When 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 Seaside Too Sandy, Water Too Moist. Because the identify suggests, this broadly widespread podcast explores probably the most dramatic one-star evaluations 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.

Keep in mind to ask your self — what’s 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 prospects, publication subscribers, or social media followers. If doable, get them on a name.

2. Launch with slingshot momentum

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

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

🎙️ File a number of episodes earlier than launching. That manner, you give your self respiration 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 means of reveals, the artwork ought to inform them what your present delivers.

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

✏️ Write a quick description. Your podcast’s description ought to clarify precisely  who you’re 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 anticipate — all, ideally, in beneath a minute.

It’d really feel unusual calling up the mother and father and seeing if they’ll promote your new mission. However the second your podcast launches, put apart that ego and beg your loved ones and mates to share, share, share.

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

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

Outdoors of leveraging your private community, you may:

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, exhausting money. However it’ll 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. In case you have a connection to different podcasts in your area of interest, attempt reaching out to star as a visitor. This works particularly nicely in case you convey a novel viewpoint, whether or not it’s your experience or expertise in your discipline.

🎧 Take note of viewership spikes. To construct an viewers, you should create constantly widespread content material. Discover what resonates together with your listeners by listening to spikes in viewership. Did a sure matter generate an enormous quantity of listens? Create episodes round an identical matter.

🤩 Collaborate with influencers. Sure, even in podcasting, influencer advertising and marketing can assist develop your viewers. Determine widespread 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 make cash utilizing two modes: promoting and subscriptions.

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

🙋 Supply exclusives. Podcasts usually supply unique content material to subscribers, equivalent to behind-the-scenes recordings or bonus episodes. You might document an hour of content material and reserve half of it for subscriber-exclusive content material, for instance.

You will get sponsored promoting on your podcast in numerous other ways, some are simpler (however much less worthwhile) than others. You’ll be able to:

• Attain out to manufacturers or small companies instantly

• Develop into an affiliate marketer for Amazon Market, Audible, and others

• Make the most of platform-based promoting, equivalent 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 pays to promote to a nonexistent, and even small viewers.

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