The pandemic led to an increase in the number of flowers planted in puppies animal Crossingand podcasts – more than 1.1 million shows launched in 2020 alone.
But soon, the podcast phenomenon stagnated. New podcasts declined a year later and declined by 80% in 2022.
Would you ride this rollercoaster? be honest. Source: neimanlab
Does this mean the podcast train has left the station? No tickets available anymore for savvy hosts and sultry voices?
Absolutely not – your podcast cannot go to waste.
Luckily, podcast geniuses darren clarke (Executive Producer my first million) And Kal Elsebai (Senior Manager of Podcast Strategy at HubSpot) shares his tips on how you can create a great show. Both broke it down into three distinct parts:
Here's how you can turn your business or specific hobby into the next big thing in podcasting (have you ever wanted to listen to 49 minutes of static fangirling?).
1. Create the podcast you want to listen to
If you're launching a podcast to make a quick buck… think again.
instead of finding profitable Start with a niche, your passion. If you can discuss a topic for hours, chances are your enthusiasm will increase and people will pay attention.
If you're starting from scratch, do your research, identify your area, and find your unique perspective on that topic.
As Darren lovingly suggests, “Rest until it hurts.”
Consider Podcasts Beach very sandy, water very wet. As the name suggests, this widely popular podcast explores the most dramatic one-star reviews ever written. And all. The hosts simply use their sharp wit and top-notch caraning to create a distinctive, humorous podcast.
Remember to ask yourself – what will listeners learn from listening to your podcast? Will they kill the Notes app? Will they laugh at your intelligence the whole time?
Whatever feelings listeners have after listening to you, identify what your podcast promises them.
If you already have an audience, find the middle point between your passions and their wants. Survey your customers, newsletter subscribers, or social media followers. If possible, get them on a call.
2. Launch with slingshot motion
Before you launch your podcast into the ether, set it up for success:
Find a realistic rhythm. Can you make one episode a week? How about every other week? Whatever you choose, stick to it.
Record multiple episodes before launching. This way, you give yourself breathing room to create future episodes.
Design compelling podcast art. The thumbnail should tell a story right away. When a user scrolls through the show, the art should tell them what your show has to offer.
The combination of great art and great headshots seems to be a winning formula. But you do it! Source: HubSpot Podcast Network
Write a quick description. Your podcast description should make it clear who you are and why they should listen.
Create a trailer that attracts attention. Your podcast's trailer should showcase the hosts, your topic authority, and what listeners can expect – all of which, ideally, should be under a minute long.
It may seem awkward to call parents and see if they can promote your new project. But as soon as your podcast launches, put that ego aside and urge your family and friends to share, share, share.
Why suffer embarrassment? Because launching gives you the opportunity to build serious momentum.
Platform algorithms, including Spotify, favor newer shows and will promote them more than older shows. But you only have ~48 hours to take advantage of it. So, call your parents for the last time. Please?
In addition to leveraging your personal network, you can:
Bottom line: get your face (and voice) out there!
3. Make bank – in due time.
From the beginning, we warned you that podcasting requires some warming up before it can make you cold, hard money. But it will come – once you build a larger audience. Here's how you can do it:
Star as a guest on another podcast. If you have connections to other podcasts in your area, try starring as a guest. This works especially well if you bring a unique perspective, whether it's your expertise or experience in your field.
Focus on increasing viewership. To build an audience, you must create Continuous Popular content. Find out what your audience likes by paying attention to viewership growth. Did a large number of people listen to a particular topic? Create episodes on a similar topic.
Collaborate with influential people. Yes, even in podcasting, influencer marketing can help grow your audience. Identify popular influencers in your niche, reach out to them, and see if you can partner with them (e.g., promotional posts, videos, etc.).
Podcasts make money in two ways: advertising and subscriptions.
Serve ads. “This episode is brought to you by…” brings in advertising revenue for the podcast. Listeners devote almost an hour of their time to the person they trust on their favorite topic. When hosts recommend products or services, they pay attention.
Make a special offer. Podcasts often offer exclusive content to subscribers, such as behind-the-scenes recordings or bonus episodes. For example, you could record an hour of content and reserve half of it for client-specific content.
You can get sponsored advertising for your podcast in several different ways, some easier (but less profitable) than others. you can:
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Reach brands or small businesses directly
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Become an Affiliate Marketer for Amazon Marketplace, Audible, and More
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Take advantage of platform-based advertising, such as Spotify's subscription model for their podcasts
But monetization happens in due time. You should prioritize creating compelling content And Growing your audience before even thinking about sponsorship. Some brands will pay to advertise to non-existent or even small audiences.
Still, podcasting can turn your knowledge (and beautiful voice) into a long-term investment.
