As a form of media, podcasts have risen up the rankings in recent times. Alongside listening to offerings from Chicago-based creatives, people are indulging in a range of material from around the world too. The options are comprehensive, that’s for sure.
There is an argument to suggest that the podcast space has become somewhat saturated, though. That’s why it’s more important than ever before to make sure that your product stands out from the crowd. Of course, there are some examples to follow which are already being set in various genres in the podcast field, much like some of the top sports podcasts as selected by Ross O’Connor for Mansion Bet, but it can be hard to establish exactly why those particular products are doing so much better than the rest. If you’re well organised and have a good setup to start with, then your podcast certainly stands a better chance than some of the more disorganised, shoddy offerings out there, though.
Acquiring some good quality recording equipment and nailing the editing is obviously key too, but we’re mainly focussing on some other aspects of starting a podcast which people sometimes neglect when getting their operation up and running. So, without further ado, here are some key things to consider before starting a podcast in 2021.
What’s your podcast actually for?
Before venturing into the podcast world, it’s vitally important to assess exactly why you’re starting a podcast and who it’s for. Perhaps you’re a freelancer? Maybe you’re a marketing manager? Whatever it is, make sure you’ve ascertained who your target audience is and what exactly is the type of content they’d like to listen to. It’s important to always remember why you’re here and who you are talking to. Never lose sight of your audience and always create content with them in mind. Some people even create listener personas or avatars, which can help them gain a clearer picture of who exactly it is that they’d like to target.
Of course, for many people starting a podcast, they might only manage to reach one or two people initially, but speaking into the void is a great way of getting yourself in the podcast mode and essentially feeling more comfortable with your setup. Yes, every podcast would like to start with hundreds or thousands of listeners, but would they necessarily be ready for it? Use the early stages to perfect your offering and then, from there, the listeners will start to increase as you improve. Always give your followers a reason to listen, perhaps with a teaser ahead of the next episode or a hot topic that will surely gain some attention and keep them on their toes.
How long should a podcast episode be?
It does depend on the type of podcast you’re creating and the content you’re keen to share, but podcast length is hugely important. A short episode is generally considered to be 15 to 20 minutes long, whereas a long episode is probably anything over an hour. Ultimately, though, your episode length needs to be determined by both your content and your audience. For example, if you have an hour’s worth of intriguing content, then why would you chop it down to a 15-minute episode? Likewise, if you’ve managed to share your opinion on something within 15 minutes, then there is no reason to ramble on for another half an hour. Remember, you can always chop your content down and create two episodes, too.
How often should I release new content?
Similar to the writing world, where someone might create a blog but only share one post a year, it’s important to keep a steady flow of content on your podcast. A steady flow is generally considered to be either every two weeks or once a month, with some podcasts even sharing content on a weekly basis. Quality over quantity is worth considering here, though. Ultimately, it’s better to produce fewer episodes of a high standard than plenty that are low quality.
