According to Ofcom, roughly 7.1 million people in the UK now listen to podcasts each week. That’s one in eight people!
If you want more stats, here they are: this figure shows an increase in podcast subscribers and listeners of 24% over 2019.
So now you’re definitely thinking about starting a podcast, aren’t you? It’s even made me think about it! Podcasts are growing in popularity year on year, and they’re only set to continue to be popular among a huge range of demographics. Read on for my tips on how to join in with this lucrative trend and start your own podcast for your business.
Find Your Niche
Whatever your business specialises in, there’s a niche you can exploit. Dig deep into the nuts and bolts of what you do as an organisation. What is it that sets you apart from your competitors? What do your customers find interesting? What are you experts in?
Finding your niche can be as simple as looking at the industry your work within, or as complex as looking at customer data and finding out what links them in new and innovative ways.
Here’s an interesting graph I found that shows what types of topics podcast listeners are mostly interested in. It’s important to remember, however, that while some subjects seem to be less popular, they may have an
extremely devoted fanbase.
Source: Populus Research, March 2019 (Chart taken from the official Ofcom website.)
Choose A Great Name
Your podcast needs a name that your listeners will notice, remember and look out for. Don’t get trapped into thinking your podcast needs to be the same as your company’s name. Unless you’re a household name, it won’t make any difference to how new customers and leads chose your podcast over others in the
subject you’re interested in.
Pick something memorable and easy to say — 22% of podcast listeners use their smart speakers to listen to them, so make it easier for them to find your podcast by voice search.
Outline Your Style, Content and Format
Don’t wing it. While many podcasts seem to have a loose, relaxed feel, the truth is that each episode will have a plan and even a script to make sure it stays on track.
Think about the information you want to sound in your podcast and how you want to put it across. Here are some ideas to help you think about it:
● Informative
● Conversational
● Witty
● Interview
● Round-Table
● Storytelling.
Once you’ve worked out how you’d like your podcast to sound, you can start using your thoughts on your niche to create engaging content for your episodes. Also, don’t forget your podcast is essentially another route for marketing, so be sure to include several ads or plugs within each episode for relevant offers, products or services.
Sort Out Your Equipment
Podcast listeners are surprisingly discerning. Gone are the days when a tinny phone recording full of background noise and choppy editing would suffice.
There are plenty of videos on YouTube that go into details about the best types of podcasting microphones and editing software. I still think it’s perfectly acceptable to use your phone to record as long the sound quality is clear, and there are free sound editing app options out there if you’re looking for a quick trial to see how a podcast would work for you.
If you’re planning to keep making professional podcasts, however, my advice would be to invest in the right tools for the job. Your listeners will appreciate it.
Promote
All that’s left to do now is to promote your podcast! Use your social media channels to get the word out, send a mailout to your customers, add it to your email signature and speak about it to everyone you meet. Word of mouth is so important!
Encourage your listeners to review your podcast so you can take their feedback on board and encourage more subscribers to join your growing group of fans. If you like, you can pay for advertising on your chosen podcast hosting site to bring you up the rankings. It all depends on how important subscriber
numbers are to you.
Are you thinking of starting a podcast? Need some help with scripts, interview questions or marketing content? Get in touch and let’s chat about how I can help you!
Until next time…