If you’re a podcast lover, you may have been tempted by the idea of starting a podcast of your own. And why not? Given the remarkable popularity of podcasts and the broad range of forms they take and topics they cover, it seems likely that there’s a prospective audience out there for your dream podcast, whether you want to showcase your comedy writing skills or share your business expertise or simply interview your neighbors. Plus, the sound recording and editing capabilities of tools like the iPhone X mean you don’t have to invest in a lot of specialized technical equipment to get started.
But although it isn’t difficult to launch your own podcast, there are still some important things you need to think about if you want your venture to be successful and sustainable over the long term. As you make a plan for your podcast, be sure to ask yourself these key questions:
What’s my focus?
One of the biggest pieces of advice that successful podcasters give aspiring podcasters is that it’s very important to have a clear focus for your podcast when you’re first starting out. It’s understandable to want to create a podcast with broad appeal, but the fact is that podcasts that target a specific audience or fill a particular niche do far better than podcasts that attempt to be everything to everyone. To determine your focus, concentrate on what you’re passionate about or on your particular areas of expertise: this will help make sure that you stay engaged with your own content on a long-term basis, and it will give your podcast a sense of authenticity that listeners will respond to.
Can I produce content consistently?
When it comes to attracting and retaining listeners, your ability to produce content consistently is just as important as the kind of content you’re producing. For most podcast listeners, a predictable routine is important: especially at the beginning, when you’re trying to build a connection with a new audience, listeners need to know that they can rely on you to deliver new episodes of your podcast regularly. You can choose to make your episodes as frequent or as infrequent as you like—daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly—but it’s essential to stick to your schedule once you’ve set it. You may also find that this idea of consistency influences your choice of content and focus. In other words, it’s important to be clear about your niche, as mentioned above, but you also don’t want to choose such a specific topic that you have a hard time generating new content about it on a regular basis.
Who will my guests be?
Having invited guests on your podcast—whether you want someone to guest-host occasionally, different people to interview each week, or a handful of regular contributors—can help to build your audience by offering them a variety of voices and perspectives, but they’re not something you can add in as an afterthought. If you want to feature guests, you’ll need to think carefully about how you’ll approach them, and what exactly you want to have them contribute to your podcast. It’s also important to be sure that you’ve ironed out the logistics so that it’s easy for them to participate.
How will I reach my listeners?
Creating an engaging podcast is only half the battle: the other half is getting people to listen to it. Spend some time in the early days of your podcast planning process researching potential distribution platforms and other options for connecting listeners with your content. You may find it worthwhile to invest in a centralized online home, like your own website, for your podcast, and to focus your marketing and promotion efforts on driving traffic to that site. Social media promotion on channels like Twitter and Facebook can be a key part of this outreach.
Am I ready to be myself?
It might sound like a cliché, but the thing that will set your podcast apart from others in your niche is the fact that you are you. Podcast listeners love to hear the true personality and genuine passions of a podcast host coming through, so don’t feel like your podcast has to be a performance, or has to explore issues that you’re not truly interested in. Just be yourself: that’s what your audience is here for.
What are my goals for this podcast?
Most of the questions above deal with the “how” of starting a podcast, but it’s important not to neglect the “why.” Why do you want to start a podcast? Are you hoping to reach a certain number of listeners? Build interest in your business or brand? Have fun exploring a new outlet for your creativity? Meet new people in a field you’re interested in? Whatever your goals and objectives for your podcast may be, think about them and note them down during the planning process. That way, you’ll be able to define success for your podcast on your own terms.