How to Up Your Podcast Game
Podcasts are all the talk nowadays, especially the Elevate Your Brand podcast (wink, wink). Thanks to the coronavirus, podcast downloads are surging. If you have a podcast or are thinking about hopping on the bandwagon, here are a few tips to make sure your podcast is the best it can be.
Check Your Software
Under normal circumstances, I’d say to make sure you have a good quality microphone for both you and your guests. During these crazy times we’re in, it’s likely that you’ll be recording your podcast episodes remotely and as such, you’ll want to make sure your recording software is up to your standards. Make sure it’s easy to use so your guests don’t have a hard time with it. You’ll also want to do some practice rounds to make sure the sound and internet connection are up to par. Invite a friend to go through the process with you and then solicit their feedback. For the Elevate Your Brand podcast, we use a platform called Zencastr.
Your recording software is important, but don’t forget about your editing software. You don’t need to be an expert editor, but learning some basic editing skills could make a huge difference in your podcast quality.
Insert Host-Read Ads
As marketing experts, we know that podcasts are becoming one of the most popular channels for people to get their information. Unlike TV and radio advertisements, podcast ads have a much higher approval rate with 67% of listeners saying they actually like hearing sponsors on their favorite podcasts. It’s also the fastest growing advertising platform, so why not use this to your advantage?
Host-read ads tend to be the most effective because the advertisement is coming directly from someone they already know, like and trust. As the host, your only job is to talk about the service or product for about 30 seconds on the show. Sometimes, the brand will even give you a script. It really is that simple.
Keep It Interesting
Podcasts are unique in that you literally are inside of your audience’s head (headphones, AirPods, etc.) This means people can listen to your podcast while they multitask: exercising, doing the dishes, drawing or working. With that being said, you don’t want to just be background noise. Keep your episodes interesting and engaging. Interview a variety of different and impressive guests that the audience can learn unique information from. Or, if your podcast isn’t interview style, be as bold as possible without being annoying.
Don’t be afraid to change things up. Most podcasts have several seasons, so use this opportunity to change up your branding or focus on another topic relevant to your main podcast goal. Remember, if you want to have a “good” podcast, you have to constantly be thinking about how you can elevate it.
Promote Your Episodes
Promote, promote, promote. Nobody is going to know about your podcast unless you are shouting it out to the world. A great way to increase your podcast listenership is by having guests. Not only will you have your own loyal listeners, but you’ll also dip into your guests’ audience network as well. Make your podcast episodes easy to share by creating assets that can be published to your guests’ social media. Everyone loves to brag about how they were a guest on a podcast, so provide people with the tools to do so. You’ll start to see more and more people tuning in.
Podcasts are a great tool to engage with your audience while also making money (if you choose to advertise). If you want a taste of how it’s done, tune in to the Elevate Your Brand podcast every Tuesday at 9am PT!
Carly Steinberg, Public Relations Coordinator
Elevate My Brand