It’s no secret that podcasting is a huge commitment. There’s the time it takes to plan your content, record it, find guests, edit, write show notes, create social media graphics, schedule, and promote your podcast when it goes live. It takes hours to create each episode, and the last thing you want is to go through all this work and hit publish only to hear crickets and not have a successful podcast.
Your efforts deserve to be rewarded! There are things you can do to set your podcast up for success right from the start.
Here are the 5 elements of a successful podcast:
Patience
We would be lying if we said that from the moment you publish your first episode, you will have thousands of listeners (unless you already have a huge audience of devoted fans). You can get to that point, but it takes time. That means that you have to keep going even when you aren’t getting tons of listeners. Building up your library of episodes will pay off in the long run. You just have to keep going.
Authenticity
There are thousands and thousands of podcasts being published every single day covering every niche you can think of. So it’s likely that someone is already doing something very similar to what you want to do with your podcast. You don’t want to go through all the work of creating your podcast only for it to sound like everyone else’s podcast. The secret to standing out in the crowd is authenticity. Infuse each and every episode with your unique thoughts, experience, and advice on the topic. This will provide more value to your audience and help you develop a deeper connection with anyone who tunes in.
Focus
Part of keeping your show authentic and unique to you is adding in your personality, however, you don’t want it all to be about you. It’s okay to share your personal experiences, but keep them short and relevant to the episode. It’s likely that your audience doesn’t have time to listen to a 20-minute update on your vacation unless it helps them in some way. Try to think of the “what’s in it for me” factor. Whatever you are thinking of including in your show, make sure it serves your clients first and foremost.
Structure
Structure your show with intention. Think about what you are trying to achieve and the best way to deliver that result in an engaging way that will keep people dialed in. An example of a good show structure would be an introduction and hook to get people interested, your formal show intro, your content, a specific call to action, and an outro. This is a simple and effective way to keep your audience coming back for more.
Schedule
If you want your show to succeed, it is so important to stick to your schedule. If you tell your audience that they can tune into a new episode every Tuesday morning, then you should be publishing every Tuesday morning. This builds trust and reliability with your audience. They know that they get to listen to your amazing show every Tuesday without fail. This isn’t to say you have to publish weekly if you don’t want to, if you want to publish once every two weeks or even once a month, that’s okay! The key is to stick to what you tell your audience that they can expect.
Podcasting isn’t an overnight success type of platform. It takes time and dedication to create a successful podcast but anyone can be successful if they stick to these key elements.
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a great podcaster? Read more of our favorite posts here:
9 Podcast Recording Tips Every Great Host Follows
The Best Productivity Tips for Podcasters
How to Create a Podcast CTA That Your Listeners Won’t Be Able to Resist
