If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, it’s an opportune time to: The podcast market is booming, with 55% of American consumers tuning into podcasts every month. Podcasts are a great way to get your thoughts out there, communicate with others, and reach more listeners or grow your fan base.
Here are the questions to ask yourself before you invest time, energy, and money into this venture.
Starting a Podcast 101
The 6 Questions You Should Ask Yourself First
Knowing where to start with your podcast can feel daunting, even with a great concept in mind. We recommend you begin by carefully considering these six questions before you do:
#1: What’s Your Podcast About?
This question is deceptively simple, but with so much competition out there, you need to think about and decide on your initial concept before you move forward. It’s difficult these days for generic ideas to gain traction, especially with how many podcasts are out there already.
The key is to tap into a niche with room for expansion. Go beyond blanket terms like “business,” “history,” or “books,” and dig deep for what you really want to talk about. What sounds more interesting: a podcast about literature (generic), or a podcast about the low-brow, underdog authors of the 20th century (hyper-specific)?
It’s natural to be afraid of going too niche; you might wonder, “Are there really enough people out there who want this? Should I serve a broader audience?” However, if you cast too wide a net, you might find it difficult to differentiate yourself or grow a dedicated fan base.
#2: What Will You Name Your Podcast?
Naming your podcast can seem like a simple prospect, at least at first. But there’s more to think about than you’d initially expect. Do you want your name to be a pun? A play on words? Linked to a specific topic or paying homage to a known entity? Your podcast’s name is going to be how people refer to you, search you on YouTube or Spotify, and how you’ll be branded going forward.
If you’re an established brand, your podcast could be called something as simple as “The [Your Brand Name] Podcast.” Or maybe you want this podcast to be a branch off of your brand; something related, but still distinct. It’s up to you. Just make sure it’s easy to remember.
#3: What Will Your Podcast Look Like?
That’s right, we said look! Even though many podcasts are audio-only, more and more are running video or adopting visual elements. You have to get people to tune in, whether that’s just listening in the car or watching on YouTube. If you and your guests are on camera, think about your dress, the background, and the visual setting. For example, if you’re doing a podcast about underdog 20th-century authors, a bookshelf or cozy book nook would be a great background to have.
Also, you’ll want to put a good bit of thought behind your podcast’s cover art; it’s what will either draw people in or cause them to keep scrolling. You want it to be eye-catching, convey what the podcast is about, and match the rest of your brand.
#4: Is This a Long-Term Project or Short-Term Hobby?
Depending on what you want from the podcast, this question is kind of up to you (and your level of ambition). There are a lot of podcasts out there, made by friends or family, that are just hobbies or catch-up sessions. However, if you want your podcast to gain traction, it’s going to require time and effort.
Growing your podcast listener base, just like any audience, takes time. We’re talking months, even years. Of course, if your podcast is an extension of your already-established brand, you might already have a starter audience. But having a following doesn’t automatically guarantee listeners. Expect to invest a good bit of time and energy into developing consistent, compelling content. And don’t discount a good old-fashioned trial run. If you’re an established business starting a podcast, try out a few episodes and see if the return makes sense for you.
#5: Who’s In Charge of the Podcast?
Is this all up to you and your schedule, or will you be relying on others to help you?
There are plenty of solo podcasts out there, so if this project just features you, you can skim this part. But if you’re going for back-and-forth conversations, interviews, and a variety of perspectives, you’ll need to choose your fellow collaborators wisely, and you might even have to delegate.
Make sure whoever you invite onto this project is just as committed as you are. Many brands with podcasts rely on a rotating cast of co-hosts, but they always maintain a designated host who’s responsible for organizing the show. You’ll also need to think about how you plan to get guests on the podcast if it’s an interview-style show.
#6: What’s Your Podcasting Schedule?
For a podcast, you have to be consistent with your content. It’s easy to lose followers when they don’t know what to expect. That means you shouldn’t commit to releasing an episode twice a week if that’s not realistic for you and your team.
Figure out how long it takes to record a finished episode, talk with your collaborators about their schedules, consider your own schedule for editing and such, and create as often as these factors will allow, ideally with a little bit of wiggle room. Podcast schedules vary widely: some post biweekly, others every day, and others once a month. You shouldn’t feel pressured to produce at a breakneck speed. Other people have busy lives too.
We Know How to Grow an Audience
Are you feeling overwhelmed with content creation, including starting a podcast or even getting videos of you and your team out there? We get it; it’s quite the undertaking. Our content experts at Uptick are ready to help you. Start a conversation with us today.
